Global Warming May Spawn Fierce Hurricanes - Experts

[hatrack]

WASHINGTON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - As Hurricane Ivan and its powerful winds churned through the Gulf of Mexico, scientists told Congress on Wednesday that global warming could produce stronger and more destructive hurricanes in the future. Global warming will increase the temperature of ocean water that fuels hurricanes, leading to stronger winds, heavier rains and larger storm surges, the researchers told the Senate Commerce Committee.

However, the increase in ocean temperatures is unlikely to boost the average number of Atlantic hurricanes that form each year, they said.

EDIT

Warmer water temperatures will promote more intense tropical storms, but not necessarily make the frequency of those storms greater," said Dan Cayan, a research meteorologist at the University of California in San Diego. "An increase of even a degree or so in the right environment would cause intensities to increase," he said.

Some members of Congress, scientists and environmental groups contend that global warming is upsetting environmental balances by altering fragile weather patterns in the world. However, 10 climatologists and scientists sent a letter to Sen. John McCain, the Arizona Republican who heads the committee, saying there is no scientific evidence of a link between severe weather -- such as hurricanes, blizzards and heat waves -- and global warming. They argued that warmer periods of temperatures have actually led to a decline in the number and severity of storms."

EDIT

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

[seasat]

1. I'm curious to who were the 10 who disagreed.

From article:

"However, 10 climatologists and scientists sent a letter to Sen. John McCain, the Arizona Republican who heads the committee, saying there is no scientific evidence of a link between severe weather -- such as hurricanes, blizzards and heat waves -- and global warming."

I'd be willing to bet that Lindtz, Singer, McMicheal, Baliunas, Soon, and a couple of others that are funded by fossil fuel associations formed the 10. We know the water is warmer because we have direct measurements. These are not guesses. If the water is warmer then it will provide more energy to any storms that form. It's pretty straight forward. I wish the media would actually look at the consensus view instead of providing a forum for whores such as those critics. These guys don't do research. All they do is try to manipulate and critique public data to best fit their sponsor's views. That is not science. That's politics.

[hatrack]

2. I checked the Commerce Cmte. website, as well as McCain's page

Nothing doing yet - not even a mention of this letter and its mysterious 10 "scientists".

[Viking12]

3. Ding, Ding, Ding

We have a winner, Baliunas and George Taylor were invited to testify for "the other side". I believe there is some mention of the letter at Tech Central Station if you're willing to stomach the bullshit over there.

I skimmmed over Cayan's prepared statement yesterday and didn't see any mention of hurricanes. The flat-earth crowd had raised the issue in the days BEFORE the hearing and without knowing what he was going to talk about. Apparently they got some Senator to shill their case in the Q & A at the hearing.

[hatrack]

4. Ah yes, Tech Central Station - that bastion of scientific integrity

:puke:

[seasat]

8. I'm sure you saw the article in Wash. Monthly on Tech Central.

For others, they're an astroturf firm. The owner of the online Mag actually works as a lobbyist. They'll take in Bucks from an interested party and then send out letters as though they are constituents in a letter writing campaign by changing the name of each letter writer. Instead of grass roots, they're astroturf...totally artificial. They'll then also publish articles at Tech Central favorable to their clients. Thus completing their lobbying cycle. They are part of the scum that sticks to your shoes in DC politics.

[bemildred]

5. Maybe we can have a "great red spot" like Jupiter. nt

[phantom power]

6. I've read that our land-masses prevent that from happening

If we had a band of open ocean all the way around the planet, say around the lattitude of florida, that a "permanent" storm might be possible.

On the other hand, if we continue to drive the system with enough heat, who knows what's possible.

[bemildred]

7. Makes sense, but I was just free associating anyway.

The only global free run all the way around is down around
Antarctica. Maybe if the Antarctic melts it will free up a
lane down there. I'm thinking about moving to Canada and
investing in some oceanfront property on Banks Island. :-)