Climate change impacts Grand Strand, Pee Dee with rising temperatures since 1970

(WPDE) — Human-caused climate change is altering Earth’s climate in extreme ways. Fossil fuel emissions, deforestation and other human activities are contributing to the unnatural shift in the planet’s climate. Heat-trapping greenhouse gas concentrations are at their highest point in at least the last 800,000 years.

As these harmful activities have been doing damage to the Earth since the Industrial Revolution, in 2025, we are seeing the changes in our climate, and it isn’t just a large-scale issue. The heat that these greenhouse gases capture and trap within the atmosphere slowly increases temperatures over time.

There was 30 percent more carbon dioxide (an impactful greenhouse gas) in the atmosphere in 2024 than there was on the first Earth Day in 1970.

Since 1970, average temperatures in the Grand Strand and the Pee Dee have risen. This takes into account both overnight lows and afternoon highs throughout the year, which means even the area’s coldest days are included in these averages.

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Florence has experienced a nearly 2-degree-Fahrenheit rise in average temperature from 1970 to 2024. Myrtle Beach has experienced a 1-degree-Fahrenheit rise in average temperature on that same scale.

The change in average temperature over time in Myrtle Beach is less than the change in average temperature in Florence by almost a degree is due to the maritime influence of the ocean. Because of the ocean’s high heat capacity, it takes longer for the ocean to warm or cool. Coastal communities, therefore, take a longer time to drastically change temperature, even from season to season. So, warming over time due to climate change will also be slower.

In South Carolina, the average temperature in the state has warmed by 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit since 1970.

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Across the Continental United States, the states with the highest average temperature change are New Mexico, New Jersey, Delaware, Vermont, and Massachusetts.

In Alaska, the average temperature has increased the most in the U.S. at 4.3 degrees Fahrenheit.

The average temperature in the Lower 48 has risen by nearly 3 degrees Fahrenheit since 1970, and that takes into account cold days, hot days, overnights, and beyond across the Continental U.S. from 1970 to 2024.

It’s important to note that there are things that can be done to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and live more sustainably. There are actions that can prevent further warming over the next 55 years and beyond.

Some ways to live more sustainably include eating less meat, repurposing objects or thrifting before buying new, using less plastic, walking or bicycling for transportation when possible, taking public transportation if offered, or carpooling.

This Earth Day, it’s encouraged to find more sustainable practices when possible and be a steward of the Earth today and every day.