As the warmth of summer refuses to go away, we look forward to the calm moderate temperatures of fall and the cool or even frigid air of Winter.

So, why is it still so warm out? The Pacer has some answers to quench your curiosity, featuring the Meteorology department. 

A high-pressure system is hovering over the region, contributing to the above-average temperatures in the area. We spoke with the Department of Meteorology for a better understanding of this high-pressure system.

“High pressure creates sinking air that compresses and warms, while also blocking cooler air masses from moving southward from Canada,” assistant professor of Geosciences Dr. Aaron Scott said.

To make this simple to understand, the cool air is unable to move down from Canada because the high pressure creates warm air, which blocks cool air from moving down to the states. In addition to this pressure system preventing the cooler air from moving downward, the lack of rain is playing a significant role in keeping our area hot.

The small amount of rain that we have been experiencing over the last few weeks has made it difficult for precipitation to happen; thus, the air is unable to cool down. The sun continuously warms the area with no way to cool it down. 

This raises the question of whether climate change is to blame for this phenomenon. Climate change is a long-term alteration of the global temperature and weather patterns, which is affected by greenhouse gases.

“In Tennessee specifically, temperatures have risen by 0.5°F since the beginning of the 20th century, with the warmest consecutive five-year period being 2016–2020,” Dr. Scott said. “The state has warmed notably in the last 20 years, and average annual rainfall is increasing.”

The answer has always been in our hands. As Tennessee has warmed over the last five years, we as humans should find ways to reduce our carbon footprint and prevent an abundance of greenhouse gases from entering our atmosphere. Reducing your carbon footprint is easier than you would think. Try to utilize renewable energy, look into carpooling on your way to work or school, eat less meat, and even try to reduce the amount of waste that you produce. 

“Planting is good and using tools like recyclable foods in the garden without using commercial fertilizers is an easy switch over,” said Tessa Schneider, a Meteorology student and transfer from Kenosha, Wisconsin.

If you have an interest in the weather and Meteorology, look into the department and organization on campus. The American Meteorological Society on campus is made up of students from within the major and people outside of it, looking for a sense of community in learning about the weather. If you’re looking for local weather updates as well, there is a student-run portion of the UT Martin website that updates weekly to provide us with accurate forecasts. 

“If you’re drawn to understanding how our atmosphere works, now is an exciting time to enter the field,” Dr. Scott said. “Climate change is making weather forecasting both more challenging and more critical to society. We need meteorologists who can not only predict weather but also communicate complex information clearly to the public.”