The Light Pirate

Brooks-Dalton’s near-future dystopian novel is based upon real-world issues that have already begun to impact the story’s setting of Florida. The increase in greenhouse gases causes warmer oceans, higher sea levels, and heavier rainstorms. The Environmental Protection Agency anticipates that these problems will only worsen with the passage of time: “In the coming decades, rising temperatures are likely to increase storm damages, harm coral reefs, [and] increase the frequency of unpleasantly hot days” (“What Climate Change Means for Florida.” United States Environmental Protection Agency, Aug. 2016). Florida’s extensive coastlines and low elevation place it at higher risk than most other states. Over the next century, rising sea levels could erode beaches, flood wetlands, and affect cities along Florida’s Atlantic and Gulf Coasts.

For decades, scientists have observed that warmer ocean temperatures intensify hurricanes’ wind speeds and rainfall rates. A growing body of evidence suggests that climate change is contributing to more severe tropical storms and an earlier start to hurricane season. Two major storms, Hurricanes Ian and Nicole, struck Florida in 2022 alone: “According to NOAA, both storms caused significant financial and physical damage, totaling more than $112 billion and an estimated 157 deaths” (Galoustian, Gisele.