BY KATIE THORN
South Jersey Climate News
What was once a piece of land where dinosaurs roamed 66 million years ago has transformed into a learning experience in which scientists bridge the gap between history and the future of the climate.
On Thursday evening, Aug. 6, science lovers and curious learners gathered at the Edelman Fossil Park & Museum to attend the “Why Dinosaurs Matter: Our Changing Climate” discussion hosted by paleontologist Dr. Kenneth Lacovara and meteorologists Nor’Easter Nick Pittman, and Glenn “Hurricane” Schwartz.
The evening started with Lacovara, the founding executive director of the fossil park, explaining the deep history of dinosaurs, the five mass extinctions, and how the past can help people predict the future.
“Now, why are we stuck in the ancient past?” asked Lacovara. “Well, because that’s where the answers are. I mean, when you think about it, the present is nothing… We don’t have access to the future, so 100% of our information comes from the past.”
Throughout history, there have been five mass extinctions. The last mass extinction, known as the End-Cretaceous extinction, occurred when an asteroid hit Earth, creating catastrophic climate changes. The asteroid not only caused global wildfires, but the soot from those fires blocked the sun, dropping temperatures and halting photosynthesis, according to Science Insights. All non-avian dinosaurs were effectively wiped out by the cataclysmic firestorm after the meteor impact.
Scientists define mass extinctions as when at least 75% of species are going extinct, and while the planet may not be close to that right now, Lacovara finds the rate of current species extinctions troubling.
“The way we define those previous five extinctions is 75% or more species going extinct. Fortunately, we are very far from that right now, but the rate is troubling,” said Lacovara. “We have species going extinct at a very high rate, but nowhere near mass extinction levels at this point and there is a lot to do about it.”
Lacovara went on to explain how throughout history, there have been five climate crises coinciding with the five mass extinctions. What goes along with these climate crises is carbon dioxide levels, according to Lacovara.
“CO2 is everything. It determines the way a planet is going to develop, it determines how life on that planet is going to thrive or not thrive,” said Lacovara.
Schwartz, locally famous as NBC Philadelphia’s “Hurricane” Schwartz, expanded on Lacovara’s explanation of carbon dioxide’s effect on the planet, by tying in his expertise in weather and meteorology.
In front of the packed crowd, Schwartz broke down a graph showing scientific findings on how the global temperature rises as more carbon dioxide enters the atmosphere. The climate crisis communicator and long-time meteorologist emphasized how the planet needs a “Goldilocks” amount of CO2, not too much, but not too little.
“If we had no CO2 on Earth, the average temperature would be zero…You need carbon dioxide, but a little more, and you’re going over the edge,” said Schwartz.
The meteorologist went on to explain that an increase of carbon dioxide doesn’t just cause hotter days, but more extreme weather events. Increased carbon dioxide can also affect extreme cold, extreme rainfall, and other extreme weather events, according to Schwartz.
“But meteorologists, we can see the changes in the weather. We can predict the changes in weather,” said Schwartz. “We see extremes, we see records and like I said, it doesn’t just warm up gradually.”
“Now, why are we stuck in the ancient past?” asked Lacovara. “Well, because that’s where the answers are. I mean, when you think about it, the present is nothing… We don’t have access to the future, so 100% of our information comes from the past.”
While the scientists discussed the importance of slowing climate change, they also discussed the effects of climate they are already seeing.
Nick Pittman, also known as “Nor’Easter Nick,” is a meteorologist located in the South Jersey region. Pittman was raised on the barrier island shoretown of Brigantine, New Jersey, and he said he has already seen climate-related effects. As a kid, Pittman said he saw some flooding after major storms, but has noticed more sunny-day flooding in beach towns.
“We’re not supposed to be living on the Barrier Islands,” said Pittman. “And these little islands are actually sinking little by little. It’s not a whole lot, but they’re sinking as the sea level is coming up as well. So that’s only going to exacerbate the issues going forward.”
While Pittman is seeing the current effects of climate change on his hometown, his forecasting skills show a grim future for his boyhood home.
When asked what he thinks Brigantine will look like in 2100 with the current rate of climate change, Pittman said, “Brigantine’s probably underwater at that point, or at least dealing with moderate to high flooding. Your sea breeze is basically meaningless…You’re looking at your average high temperatures, probably 95 to 100 degrees.”
While Pittman may see the future of shore towns such as Brigantine as grim, the trio emphasized the importance of being vigilant about climate change.
“Really, only historians are going to know the name Barack Obama or Donald Trump or what war was happening in 2026,” said Lacovara. “But all those people, a thousand years from now, are going to know we were the people that spoiled the Earth’s atmosphere. We’re the people that are causing them to suffer a thousand years from now .”
The scientists may have their concerns on how rapidly the climate is changing, but they also have simple ways everyday people can be more sustainable to hopefully slow the rate of climate change.
Lacovara has taken the steps in being more sustainable. The paleontologist recommends rewilding, which is the practice of leaving one spot of grass unmowed. According to Lacovara, rewilding is a way to be lazy while also benefiting the environment.
“You can do good by being lazy,” said Lacovara. “It’s as simple as that, just take a patch of your yard and mow it once a year.”
Schwartz also has tried to be more sustainable by switching from a gas-powered car to an electric vehicle. Not only does he claim his car is faster, but said it is more efficient with its charging.
“There’s all kinds of things that we can do… and there’s no Planet B,” said Schwartz.
This story was originally published by South Jersey Climate News through the NJ News Commons.
