Thoughts on New Rochelle heat wave

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Brian Connors Arts and Entertainment Editor

Holy hotness, Batman! New Rochelle is scorching but it does not take a master detective to come to that revelation. As evident by the sweat-stained, gray T-shirts and the heavy groans coming from classrooms with no air-conditioning, every Iona student has fallen victim to a vicious heat wave.

During the past week, the biggest question on people’s minds has been how on Earth could it be so hot? The short, scientific answer is because of the absurdly high humidity levels. Regardless of the actual temperature level, the high humidity has given the illusion of triple-digit temperatures.

This term is called heat index. The heat index is the temperature the human body feels when relative humidity is factored into the actual air temperature. The air temperature throughout syllabus week stayed in the 90s but the heat index was well into the triple digits.

It is important to note the insane heat wave this past week as well as the heat throughout September. Why? The heat is all a part of a larger theory; I call this theory “The Month Push Back Theory.” Obviously, I have not given much thought to the name. This theory states that due to global warming, each month has been pushed back to the next month. For example, although it was technically August during syllabus week – it was actually July. As we head into September, it is August.

I am not usually one for conspiracy theories. Is Ted Cruz the Zodiac Killer? No, but some college students believe this and countless other theories. I usually do not believe the ridiculousness of these conspiracies but this one makes sense to me!

Last year, snow fell in March. March! This is because the month we have come to know as March is February. May was so rainy because it was April! White Christmases are a thing of the past because December is a pushed-back November! Usually at the end of August, the waves at the beach grow out of the intensity of hurricane season. This August, the ocean was as flat as a lake.

If one sits back and ponders upon this monthly weather theory, a lot of points can be made. Is it true? Maybe. The legitimate truth, however, is that global warming is real. Despite the fake news spewed by the current presidential administration, Earth’s temperatures are all out of proportion and something needs to be done!

A few weeks ago, some of the oldest ice in the Arctic – some sea ice off the coast of Greenland – broke for the first time in history, according to CNN. This event is something that scientists predicted would not happen for years – yet it happened in 2018.

Scientists are saying the direct cause of the sea ice breaking is due to climate change. As a result, people should improve the way they treat the environment. There is always something to do in relation to living a greener lifestyle. If we do not try and curb global warming, the syllabus week heat wave might become the new normal.