After 30 years of teaching I said to hell with it. And I decided to retire. |
But we don't know a lot about how evaporation from the ocean surface works when the winds get up to around 100 miles per hour, as they do in hurricanes, |
However, it's not a simple relationship. In fact, it's difficult to explain why the total number of hurricanes and their longevity has decreased during the last decade, when sea surface temperatures have risen the most. |
If we can understand why the world sees about 85 named storms a year and not, for example, 200 or 25, then we might be able to say that what we're seeing is consistent with what we'd expect in a global warming scenario. Without this understanding, a forecast of the number and intensity of tropical storms in a future warmer world would be merely statistical extrapolation. |
In the 1970's, there was an average of about 10 Category four and five hurricanes per year globally. Since 1990, the number of Category four and five hurricanes has almost doubled, averaging 18 per year globally. |
Our work is consistent with the concept that there is a relationship between increasing sea surface temperature and hurricane intensity, ... However, it's not a simple relationship. In fact, it's difficult to explain why the total number of hurricanes and their longevity has decreased during the last decade, when sea surface temperatures have risen the most. |
Roughly 65 percent of the world's population lives in monsoon regions, ... This is the fastest growing region on the planet. By the year 2025, it is anticipated this number will grow to 75 percent. |
Roughly 65 percent of the world's population lives in monsoon regions. This is the fastest growing region on the planet. By the year 2025, it is anticipated this number will grow to 75 percent. |
The relationship between sea surface temperature and intensity is not one that has surprised us. The other factors mentioned for hurricanes are more awkward. |
The total number of storms that are reaching category 4 and 5, and the number of days that they're staying as category 4 and 5, which has increased substantially. |
There's a plus and minus with oscillations, ... What we see is a universal increase [in temperature] and a universal change in hurricane intensity. |
There's a plus and minus with oscillations. What we see is a universal increase [in temperature] and a universal change in hurricane intensity. |
We need a longer data record of hurricane statistics, and we need to understand more about the role hurricanes play in regulating the heat balance and circulation in the atmosphere and oceans, |
What we found was rather astonishing. |