The Effects of Global Warming on Hurricanes
In the past there has been “five extinctions” in our earth’s natural history. For reasons unknown they have been cause of many species to be extinct. But, in the past rising and low temperatures has had a great influence on the environment. Weather Patterns can drastically change over period of times, and turn deserts into lush, plentiful paradises or vice versa. Such is the force of Hurricanes, a destructive force of nature that doesn’t know boundaries and truly wields the power of wind and rain. According to recent research there is significant evidence that rising sea temperatures are fueling hurricanes. In the future we could possibly have hurricanes storms that would make, “Katrina” a child compared to its next destructive parent.
First, understanding how hurricanes are created is key to understanding how global warming contributes to rising temperatures. Ocean waters must be warm enough to place moisture into the atmosphere; this is the fuel of the storm. Next, moisture from the atmosphere combine with heat (usually from tropical areas) and energy wields into a spiral. Third, a wind pattern is a crucial factor. It migrates to other areas where it could attain more fuel and many thunderstorms are produced. This also causes the atmosphere to rise in temperature due to the heating of the air. Last, progressively it can become even stronger if light winds in the atmosphere don’t intervene. According to James Elsner from Florida State University, said “Global Warming has caused the global ocean temperatures to increase by an average of a third of a degree Celsius (about a half a degree Fahrenheit), and this change has fueled the hurricane intensity.” So we understand that warm ocean water and air are factors in producing these great storms.
Substantial evidence is available that the human civilization is responsible for these drastic changes. The exhaust of cars releasing carbon dioxide and methane being release under and now exposed glaciation. Furthermore, wild fires all over the nation, but very much prevalent in certain states, such as California where it is very dry and little rainfall. This also contributes to the global count of carbon in the atmosphere although it is minor, it is factor. Where third-world countries are becoming more industrialized and populations are flourishing, in which deforestation is being practice. Our rainforest’s are now being destroyed, and are also called the “lungs of the earth.” This introduces new drastic changes in places where rainfall is prevalent and now they are being dry and geographical areas where rainfall is scarce, and rainfall is now plentiful. As result rainfall is natural phenomenon that occurs every day, but due to the global temperatures it is tipping the natural balances of the earth. Due to the heating of the earth, because of carbon dioxide it forms a blanket around the earth. This traps sunlight in our atmosphere and heats our global temperatures and distributes this warm air and due the effects ocean water becomes warmer. Although, humans have been producing carbon since the “Industrial Revolution” and releasing it into our atmosphere very little is known in how much and if it is enough to cause global temperatures to rise and create disastrous hurricanes.
“Warmer seawater has boosted the average wind speed of powerful hurricanes from 140 miles (225 kilometers) an hour in 1981 to 157 miles (253 kilometers) an hour in 2007. And because it is relatively cool, the North Atlantic hasn't traditionally produced many intense hurricanes. The presence of more powerful storms in the Atlantic in recent years is a clear indication that the ocean is warmer than it was 26 years ago, Elsner said. All these evidence is supported by “Kerry Emanuel from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in which he said, “The new findings are based on 26 years of data from weather satellites.
There is reason to believe that global warming is causing this great increase of hurricanes such as “Katrina.” Katrina caused millions of dollars in damage and is second to the great hurricane of Miami in 1926. Christopher W. Landsea, a researcher from (Operations Officer at the National Weather Service's National Hurricane Center in Miami, FL) said “one should just be able to go directly to the Atlantic basin hurricane database - HURDAT14 - and simply count how many tropical storms and hurricanes have occurred over time. Indeed, this is exactly what some studies have done. For example, one paper, showed a strong relationship between Atlantic Ocean temperatures and Atlantic basin tropical storm and hurricane counts from 1871 to present.
In conclusion, in the past global warming is not something new and we don’t know what the future in Hurricane weather can really be like. But, we do know is that the earth is natural temperature is rising. And there is also strong correlation in the amount carbon released and affecting the rising of temperatures and producing these monstrous storms. But how do we stop it?, or can we?, will we?
Interview with a biologist
Donald Rhoades, a experienced biologist and a Ph.D. with many years in the field.
1. Do you think a rise in global temperature is causing stronger Hurricane storms?
Answer –yes, are we responsible? I don’t know, but I do know geologically speaking it has happen in the past were carbon levels were much higher in the cretaceous period about 6 times more.
2. Do you believe weather pattern can change due to rising Global temperatures?
- yes, it can it has done it for millions of years, it’s one of the reasons the evolution species can happens they can adapt if given enough time.
3.) Do you believe we could face stronger Hurricanes and disastrous storms in the near future? Probably not, Fossil fuels are running out, and its primarily the cause at least from human perspective why carbon levels are high. But I don’t think so. Maybe in 30 years, fossil fuel will deplete.
Works Cited
Dyre, Willie. “Strong Hurricanes Getting Stronger; Warming Is Blamed.” National Geographic 3.22.2013 : 1. Web. 4 Sept. 2008.
Biello, David. “Stronger Link Found Between Hurricanes and Global Warming.” Scientific American Journal 3.22.2013 :1. Web. 11 Nov. 2012
Kluger, Jefferey. "Is Global Warming Fueling Katrina?" Times News 3.22.2013 :1. Web. 8 Aug.2005.
