As the U.S. freezes, Australia is putting sunblock on its grapes to combat the heat

As the U.S. freezes, Australia is putting sunblock on its grapes to combat the heat
(Image credit: iStock)

As the U.S. prepares for more cold weather, Australia just experienced its third-hottest year on record, and it's still feeling the heat.

In fact, Australia is so hot that one vintner is spraying his grapes with sunblock to combat climate change. The extreme temperatures have a devastating effect on Australia's vineyards, and grape crops are feeling the burn.

Bruce Tyrrell, chief executive of Tyrrell's Wines in Australia's Hunter Valley, told BBC News that he sprays sunscreen on his grapevines to protect them from the weather. At his vineyard, temperatures can exceed 113 degrees Fahrenheit (45 degrees Celsius).

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And while Tyrrell says the vineyard turns a "funny, white-blue color" with the sunscreen, the other option is berries shriveling in the heat. Scientists have predicted that Australia's heatwaves will become longer and more severe in the upcoming years, so other businesses could soon follow Tyrrell's lead.

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