Wildfires, smoke hazards, freezing rain and extreme heat are predicted to increase in Jasper over the next 30 years, and the town can expect the daily average temperature to never drop below minus 30 degrees Celsius by the end of the century.
This, according to a recently released Climate Risk Assessment Report prepared for the Municipality of Jasper.
The report, created by a group of agencies including The Resilience Institute, also says the number of “extreme rainfall events” will increase, winter seasons will shorten and the continued glacial recession could reduce the quality and availability of drinking water.
“Many of the risks and potential impacts of these climate hazards are driven by an overarching increase in extreme heat likelihood,” the report says.
Daily average temperatures in every season are expected to increase—primarily in summer—with the report highlighting that the average temperature between June and August was around 10 degrees Celsius in the 1950s, and is expected to jump by almost 40 percent to 16 degrees Celsius by the end of the century.
“The increase in days above 30-degrees Celsius may result in less people spending time outdoors and enjoying the natural environment,” the report says.
“Extreme heat-related health emergencies and impacts to vegetation/wildlife can make the area less appealing, thus reduce the enjoyment and tourism quality.”
The report added that the extreme heat would have an impact on wildlife as well—from reduced weight gain to behavioural change and more frequent human-animal interactions, as the animals search for alternative food and water sources.
The cause was a lack of oxygen in the water, which is usually precipitated by warm temperatures. // Margot Simpson
The Municipality of Jasper posted the report online this month, noting that the increase in extreme weather would “pose challenges to the Municipality’s ability to maintain its natural beauty and safety for residents and visitors alike.”
They also said that the study was “an essential step towards building resilience against climate-related hazards by identifying risks and recommending adaptation strategies.”
Cameron Jackson // info@thejasperlocal.com
