Is Global Warming Causing The Hurricanes?

[Placebo]

I remember hearing something somewhere about how experts think global warming is causing the frequency and intensity of the hurricanes this season to be so high,

Does anyone know any articles about this? Can you possibly link me? I want to write an editorial about it for my Composition & Rhetoric class tomorrow.

[The Traveler]

1. That's a real possibility.

Check out the latest edition of National Geographic ... lots of good info on global warming and its effects.

[Lefty48197]

2. Yes, I think so.

I just read something this week (USA Today?) that said that the high number of hurricanes was caused by water temperatures in the Atlantic that were 2 or 3 degrees higher than normal.

[BrotherBuzz]

3. Some experts talk of cycles

Scientists say we are in a period of
enhanced hurricane activity that could
last for decades, ending a 24-year period
of below-average activity. They also say
the law of averages has caught up with
Florida, with a change in atmospheric
steering currents turning the state into a
hurricane magnet.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/9606229.htm?1c

[Beetwasher]

4. It's Certainly Possible

There's certainly an increase in energy within the whole system due to more warmth (solar energy) being trapped that used to bleed off. Some of that energy may very well be going into these storms. :shrug:

[BrotherBuzz]

6. Interesting concept

Hurricanes are Mother Nature's way of healing herself. The hell with trees, I'll go hug a storm!

[Beetwasher]

7. LOL! Hey, I'd Pay A Dollar To See That!

Kids, don't attempt this at home!

:evilgrin:

[BrotherBuzz]

8. Momma never said I was the sharpest tack in the box

:crazy:

[truth2power]

5. Here's an article.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N15154338.htm

You might want to check down in the Science forum.

[leftofthedial]

9. global warming is likely to spawn more and larger

episodes of violent weather of all types.

[Xithras]

10. Not exactly, there were hurricanes during the last ice age

Hurricanes are perfectly normal, but increased surface temperatures in the central Atlantic can cause them to be more powerful. Honestly, I doubt warming has much to do with any of these, because power wise all of the hurricaines that have hit have been fairly typical.

Global warming will eventually start causing megahurricaines with 200+MPH eyewall winds that will literally scour the land clean in front of them. What we are seeing today is simply the law of averages at work...for every year without hurricaines, there's another year loaded with them. It doesn't help that we're coming off of a 20 year low hurricaine cycle. This fall may be considered "typical" in ten years. The actual historic average for the Atlantic ocean is six hurricaines a year, with three of them being major (category 4 or 5). The natural hurricaine cycle has lulled us into complacency over the last 20 years by only hitting us with two or three annually, but that cycle is now ramping back up, so even without global warming the southeast is facing the possibility of 6-9 storms a year for the next 15 years.

The effect of global warming will be to make those storms more powerful and damaging.

[geomon666]

11. It has been the hottest summer I've ever felt down here.

Also the worst hurricane season. The state has been hit by TS Bonnie, Hurricanes Charley, Frances, and partially by Ivan. Before 1992, the last hurricane to hit Miami was (I believe) 1967. There's something going on, no doubt about it.

[flvegan]

12. Enjoy your burger/steak...

Google the "global warming" link to the production of meat...

Mmmmmm...methane.