Hurricane Hazards Aggravated by Climate Change: New Research Reveals
Hurricanes: The Eerie Strength Amplification by Humans
It's no longer a question - humans are fueling the beast that is hurricanes. A groundbreaking study from Climate Central sheds light on the rising menace.
Breaking the Silence: Evidence UnveiledThis astonishing study points towards the alarming truth that human-induced climate change is undeniably driving the startling intensification of hurricanes.
The published research in Environmental Research: Climate reveals that as much as 84% of Atlantic hurricanes between 2019 and 2023 were significantly amplified due to climate change, boosting their wind speeds by an average of 18 mph. This increase catapulted 30 hurricanes into higher categories, like switching a Category 3 into a Category 4 or boosting a Category 4 to a dangerous Category 5.
Flashback: The Roaring MiltonTake Hurricane Milton, for example. In just 36 hours, it ramped up a staggering 120 mph, all thanks to sweltering ocean temperatures stirred up by global warming. Climate Central's Climate Shift Index: Ocean determined these temperatures were a jaw-dropping 400 to 800 times more likely due to human-induced climate change.
The ocean, over the past half-century, has hoarded more than 90% of the excess energy trapped in Earth's system by greenhouse gases and other factors, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
A Warning Shot: 2024 Hurricanes"Every hurricane in 2024 was stronger than it would have been 100 years ago," stated Dr. Daniel Gilford, climate scientist at Climate Central and lead author of the study and report. "Human carbon pollution is worsening hurricane catastrophes in our communities."
The study found three hurricanes between 2019 and 2023 that escalated to Category 5, the highest level on the scale, due to the sinister onslaught of climate change. What's more, when they applied their study methodology to the storms in 2024, the researchers suspected that hurricanes Beryl and Milton would not have reached Category 5 status if not for the disquieting impact of climate change, and every Atlantic hurricane in 2024 showed an increase in maximum wind speed, ranging from 9 to 28 mph, all due to elevated ocean temperatures resulting from climate change.
Trodden Path: Destructive FootprintsSince 1980, tropical cyclones, which include hurricanes and tropical storms, have doled out a staggering $1.4 trillion in damages and claimed over 7,200 lives, according to The National Center for Environmental Information. Climate change is knocking at the door, and one can only imagine the consequences to follow.
Insights:- Increased Rainfall Intensity: Recent studies have found that the rainfall from major hurricanes like Helene, Harvey, and Katrina was significantly intensified due to human-caused climate change, which suggests hurricanes now cause more devastating floods [1].- Rapid Intensifications: There's been an observable increase in the rate of hurricane rapid intensifications, more so in the Atlantic basin between 1982-2009. This rapid intensification is closely linked to warmer sea surface temperatures caused by human-induced global warming [2][3][4].- Slower Storm Movement: There appear to be indications that hurricanes are moving slower over land in the U.S. As a result, they cause more damage by lingering longer and intensifying wind, rain, and flooding [2].- Warmer Ocean Waters and Moist Atmosphere: Hurricanes draw their energy from hot ocean water. Numerous studies demonstrate that human-driven warming has increased sea surface temperatures and atmospheric moisture, which fuels stronger storms with more intense rainfall and faster strengthening phases [3][4].- Geographical and Seasonal Changes: There's evidence that these powerful storms and rapid intensifications could happen outside the typical peak hurricane season and in new regions, all due to changing ocean and atmospheric conditions driven by climate change [3].- Heightened Hurricane Destructiveness and Costs: Ultimately, hurricanes fueled by climate change cause higher degrees of destruction and escalated economic costs to affected communities [1].
While some scientists warn that historical hurricane data may be limited and complex, requiring more research for valid conclusions, the evidence for stronger, wetter, and more rapidly intensifying storms associated with human-induced climate change is robust, including changes in precipitation, storm intensity, and behavior consistent with what climate models predict under global warming [2][3].
- The study published in Environmental Research: Climate reveals that climate change, driven by human activities, is significantly amplifying Atlantic hurricanes, increasing their wind speeds by an average of 18 mph.
- Climate change is not only fueling the strength of hurricanes but also altering their behavior, as a recent research suggests that hurricanes are now causing more devastating floods due to increased rainfall intensity.
- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration states that the ocean has hoarded more than 90% of the excess energy trapped in Earth's system by greenhouse gases, which contribute to sweltering ocean temperatures that can boost hurricane wind speeds and intensify their destructive capabilities.
