Climate Change Impact on Latvia: Ticks, Spanish Slugs, and Storms
In the latest episode of "Kēss", marine geologist Konstantīns Ranks explains how global warming will alter Latvia's nature and weather, including the spread of invasive species and extreme weather events.
Spanish slugs, ticks, winters without snow, extreme rainfall and storms – these are just some of the topics covered in the new episode of the program "Kēss", featuring marine geologist Konstantīns Ranks. The discussion focuses on how global warming is reshaping Latvia's environment.
The program examines why the Gulf of Riga freezes less frequently and what changes await Latvian forests. Ranks provides insights into shifting climate patterns and their impact on daily life. A key question is whether weather will become even more extreme and what measures should be taken to adapt.
The spread of invasive species like Spanish slugs is directly linked to climate change. Similarly, milder winters have led to increased tick activity. More frequent storms and heavy precipitation are already affecting urban infrastructure and agriculture.
Ranks emphasizes that these changes are not just future predictions – they are already observable. Latvia must prepare for a new reality where natural conditions are changing rapidly and unpredictably.
