Atlantic Hurricanes Made Stronger by Climate Change, Study Finds
BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) — Human-caused climate change has made Atlantic hurricanes about 18 miles per hour (29 kilometers per hour) stronger in the last six years, a new scientific study found.
The Study’s Findings
For most of the storms — 40 of them — the extra oomph from warmer oceans made the storms jump an entire hurricane category, according to the study published in the journal Environmental Research: Climate. This means that for 40 storms, the intensity of the hurricanes increased by a full category, making the storms more destructive.
For three storms, including this month’s Rafael, the climate change factor goosed wind speed so much that the winds increased by two storm categories.
The Impact of Climate Change
“This isn’t about more storms, but increasing power from the worst ones, authors said.
“We know that the intensity of these storms is causing a lot more catastrophic damage in general,” said lead study author Daniel Gilford, a climate scientist at Climate Central, which does research on global warming. “Damages do scale (up) with the intensity.”
The effect was especially noticeable in stronger storms, including those that made it to the top of the Saffir-Simpson scale of storm intensity: Category Five.
Key Findings
* 85% of the storms studied in the last six years saw a fingerprint of climate change in storm strength.
* The study looked at 2019 to 2023, but the authors then did a quick addition for the named storms this year, all of which had a bump up due to climate change.
* This year’s three most devastating storms — Beryl, Helene, and Milton — increased by 18 mph (29 kph), 16 mph (26 kph), and 24 mph (39 mph) respectively because of climate change.
* The waters in the hurricane area have increased by 2 to 3 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 to 1.6 Celsius) in general and as much as 4 degrees (2.2 C) due to climate change.
Conclusion
The study’s findings confirm that climate change is playing a significant role in strengthening Atlantic hurricanes, leading to more catastrophic damage and impacts. As the climate continues to warm, it’s essential to continue monitoring and studying these changes to better understand the effects on weather patterns and to develop more effective strategies for mitigating the impacts of extreme weather events.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What was the main finding of the study?
A: The study found that human-caused climate change has made Atlantic hurricanes about 18 miles per hour (29 kilometers per hour) stronger in the last six years.
Q: What were the main factors that contributed to the increase in hurricane strength?
A: Warmer oceans, which provided more energy to the storms, and the resulting increased potential intensity, were the main factors that contributed to the increase in hurricane strength.
Q: What is the significance of this study?
A: This study highlights the importance of continued research into the impacts of climate change on extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, and underscores the need for policymakers and emergency managers to develop more effective strategies for mitigating the impacts of these events.
Q: What does this mean for future storms?
A: This study suggests that as the climate continues to warm, future storms will likely become more intense and destructive, which could have significant implications for communities and ecosystems.
Q: What can be done to mitigate the impacts of these storms?
A: The study’s findings highlight the need for policymakers, emergency managers, and community leaders to develop and implement effective strategies for mitigating the impacts of these storms, such as strengthening buildings, improving evacuation plans, and promoting climate resilience.
Q: What are some potential consequences of climate change on hurricanes?
A: Climate change is likely to lead to more intense, frequent, and destructive hurricanes, which could have devastating impacts on communities and ecosystems.
