Lots of things are blamed on the weather and particularly on climate changes: rising seas, increasing average temperatures and changes in the rainfall patterns.

Research shows that even slight rises in temperature can affect the behavior of people.

Environmental economist Matthew Ranson has predicted that the rising temperatures in the US will result in an additional 180,000 rape cases, 22,000 murders and more than a million burglaries and other crimes throughout the rest of this century.

Those numbers are based on the existing crime data and projections for changes in temperature that are widely accepted in the scientific community.

Ranson also says that a 5-degree rise in temperature can end up costing our society between $38 billion and $115 billion.

The idea that long summers often lead to more violence is not a new one. Ranson’s study looked at 30 years of crime rates in every US County. It confirmed that a lot of criminal activity spikes during the summer months, especially violent crimes. It also shows that when temperatures drop, so do the crime rates.

According to Ranson’s study, the increasing temperatures between 2010 and 2099 will require a 4% increase in police forces to handle the increasing criminal activity. That could be an average cost of $300 per person in counties nationwide, twice as much for larger cities with higher crime rates.

So, why does the rising temperature have such an effect of crime?

Some believe that it is because there are more potential victims out on the streets during warmer weather. More windows get left open and there are more social situations that can lead to violence. Psychology research also shows that heat can contribute directly to aggressive behavior.