Long Burn

Why did hurricane season start a month early this year?

A climatologist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research says that while there is no proof that global warming has caused an increase in the number of Atlantic hurricanes, 'a warming Earth is definitely making the hurricanes wetter, more powerful and hence more dangerous.' 'According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Atlantic spawned an average of 8.6 tropical storms, 5 hurricanes and 1.5 major hurricanes each year between 1970 and 1994. But from 1995 to 2004, the averages zoomed to 13.6, 7.8 and 3.8 respectively. And last year a record four hurricanes hit Florida. '

Hurricanes get their power from sea surface temperatures and atmospheric moisture. Take a look at this map to see how warm it is in the gulf of Mexico.

In another article, a top hurricane forecaster predicts that the increased hurricane activity of the last five years will continue for about two decades.

posted by Matt_J @ 3:02 PM