College football is a traditional American sport where hundreds of thousands of fans gather at university campuses every weekend to support their teams. However, extreme late-summer heat waves are now threatening this popular tradition during the early weeks of the season.
Rising temperatures and high humidity are causing safety delays and sending fans to the hospital. For example, South Carolina had to shorten its season opener by ten minutes because the heat index inside the stadium reached a record 110 degrees. During this event, emergency services and fire crews responded to more than seven hundred heat-related incidents.
Experts warn that these problems will likely become more common as climate change causes more frequent and intense heat waves. According to official data from the United States Environmental Protection Agency, extreme heat events have increased significantly over the decades. The average rate rose from two events per year in the 1960s to ten events per year between 2010 and 2020.
Researchers study how environmental challenges affect the organization and experience of sports. Universities are now looking at ways to adapt and keep the game-day experience safe and enjoyable for everyone involved as temperatures continue to rise across the country.
Difficult words
- threaten — to cause a risk or danger to someone or somethingthreatening
- humidity — the amount of water vapor present in the air
- shorten — to make something shorter in duration or length
- frequent — happening often or at short intervals
- adapt — to change in order to deal with a new situation
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How might rising temperatures change the way fans and players experience outdoor sports in the future?
- What are some practical ways universities can protect people from extreme heat during large events?
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