Is Global Warming Making Hurricanes Worse?
Have you noticed how stories about violent weather seem to be in the news every day? Why are we getting so much violent weather? Why do our hurricanes seem worse than in the past? Ever since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, many climate experts have blamed global warming for the severe weather conditions.
But, a new study released yesterday says that global warming is not to blame for the recent jump in hurricanes.
Tom Knudsen is a federal research meteorologist with the National Oceanic and atmospheric Administration in Princeton, New Jersey. In the past he believed that global warming was having an effect on storms.
His new study which is based on a computer model suggests that the increase in hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean is not a result of global warming. According to Knudsen, warmer temperatures actually reduce the number of hurricanes.
Knudsen is predicting that the number of hurricanes that actually hit land in the U.S. will drop by about 30 percent. He also predicts that by the end of the century, the number of hurricanes in the Atlantic will drop by 18 percent.
Other scientists disagree with Knudsen’s computer model and his predictions. Kerry Emanuel, a hurricane specialist out of MIT, called his conclusion “demonstrably wrong.”
For sure, Mr. Knudsen’s study will stir up a debate on global warming and hurricanes.
In a normal year there are about six hurricanes and two of them are usually big ones. On average, about five hurricanes hit the U.S. every three years.
The hurricane season begins on June 1 in the Atlantic and according to the forecast this could be a very active hurricane season.
Source: Associated Press
BLOG QUESTION
Are you the type of person who relies on the weather forecast every day or do you think weather forecasts are just guesses and are usually wrong?
But, a new study released yesterday says that global warming is not to blame for the recent jump in hurricanes.
Tom Knudsen is a federal research meteorologist with the National Oceanic and atmospheric Administration in Princeton, New Jersey. In the past he believed that global warming was having an effect on storms.
His new study which is based on a computer model suggests that the increase in hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean is not a result of global warming. According to Knudsen, warmer temperatures actually reduce the number of hurricanes.
Knudsen is predicting that the number of hurricanes that actually hit land in the U.S. will drop by about 30 percent. He also predicts that by the end of the century, the number of hurricanes in the Atlantic will drop by 18 percent.
Other scientists disagree with Knudsen’s computer model and his predictions. Kerry Emanuel, a hurricane specialist out of MIT, called his conclusion “demonstrably wrong.”
For sure, Mr. Knudsen’s study will stir up a debate on global warming and hurricanes.
In a normal year there are about six hurricanes and two of them are usually big ones. On average, about five hurricanes hit the U.S. every three years.
The hurricane season begins on June 1 in the Atlantic and according to the forecast this could be a very active hurricane season.
Source: Associated Press
BLOG QUESTION
Are you the type of person who relies on the weather forecast every day or do you think weather forecasts are just guesses and are usually wrong?
1 Comments:
i do listen to the weather, but i know it could be wrong.
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