We yap about the effects of anthropogenic environment modification. Increasing water level, heat waves, melting glaciers– they are all modifications our world is experiencing as the temperature level increases. These can appear a little abstract if you're not experiencing them yourself. In some cases it takes a concrete example of simply how environment modification is affecting not just alters to our landscape and communities, however likewise to things like … baseball.
The Tampa Bay Rays dip into Tropicana Field, a domed arena in St. Petersburg, on the “ocean side” of Tampa Bay. When Hurricane Milton struck in the middle of October, much of the mid-Gulf Coast of Florida was knocked by heavy rains, high winds and a huge storm rise. Although Milton made landfall as a Category 3 typhoon after damaging somewhat, it did trigger enormous damage that may amount to over $34 billion, making it among the most pricey in the nation's history. Fortunately, just 35 individuals died from the storm (that we understand of since late November).
Completion of the Dome
Damage triggered by Hurricane Milton in October 2024 to the roofing of Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. Credit: Wikimedia Commons (Adog).
Among the most significant scenes from the storm was the damage to Tropicana Field. The roofing, which was made from fiberglass material, was created to endure winds of ~ 125 miles per hour. Years of delayed upkeep (or even replacement) of the roofing indicated that when Hurricane Milton struck with winds at least 120 miles per hour, the roofing system of Tropicana Field was ruined. Not just that, however with the roofing in tatters, the heavy rains flooded the arena that did not have any field drain (since it was covered by a dome!)
The preliminary price quote to fix the roofing was around $56 million, much of which may have been covered by insurance coverage placed on the center by the city of St. Petersburg (as they own it). There is a problem. The Rays and the city had actually pertained to a tentative contract to develop the baseball group a brand-new arena on the website of Tropicana Field, opening possibly as quickly as 2028. The concern ended up being: do you repair an arena you're going to tear down in a couple of years?
The arena. The city of St. Petersburg just recently voted to not repair the roofing of Tropicana Field. I will not decrease discuss all the city-versus-team politics, however are enough to state, there appears to be little effort to repair the dome. Even if the roofing system is repaired, it would not be prepared till 2026, so an included corollary concern is a huge one: where do the Rays play in 2025? More on that later on.
Hurricanes Get Bigger and Badder
Gulf of Mexico typical sea surface area temperature level. Credit: Upper Ocean Dynamics Lab.
How does this link to environment modification? Well, it boils down to the nature of cyclones.
