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Warmer Oceans linked to Stronger Hurricanes

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the raise-your-hand-if-you-are-shocked dept.

linguizic writes "According to Scientific American, global warming could be creating stronger hurricanes: 'Since the 1970s, ocean surface temperatures around the globe have been on the rise--from one half to one degree Fahrenheit, depending on the region. Last summer, two studies linked this temperature rise to stronger and more frequent hurricanes. Skeptics called other factors into account, such as natural variability, but a new statistical analysis shows that only this sea surface temperature increase explains this trend.'"

3 of 374 comments (clear)

  1. Global warming and hurricanes, whatever. by CronScript · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    From TFA:

    The link between rising ocean temperatures and overall climate change remains murky because of the overlap between natural cycles and any global warming. "But if you buy the argument that global warming is causing the increase in sea surface temperatures--and everybody seems to be buying this--then it's a pretty small leap to say global warming is causing this increase [in hurricane frequency]," Curry says. Her team will now focus on clarifying the mechanisms at work in the North Atlantic by separating out the 75-year natural cycle and climate change. "The last peak was in 1950, the next is in 2025," she adds. "We're only halfway up [the cycle] and we're already 50 percent worse [in terms of storms]. To me, that's a compelling issue that needs to be confronted."

    "and everybody seems to be buying this" Really? Did they happen to discuss this with someone at the National Hurricane Center? See FAQ question G4, Are we getting stronger and more frequent hurricanes, typhoons, and tropical cyclones in the last several years? Which states that "We have not observed a long-term increase in the intensity or frequency of Atlantic hurricanes. Actually, 1991-1994 marked the four quietest years on record (back to the mid-1940s) with just less than 4 hurricanes per year.".

    The science seems good, the assumptions relating to global warming aren't.

  2. There's no PROOF by wall0159 · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    There is no *proof* that climate change is real, and even if it was, there's no *proof* that it's human caused.

    Now... back to my cigarette. Just let those greenie-commies try to prove that smoking will kill me. Nope - they can't *proove* that neither... damn hippies..

  3. God? by mattwarden · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Since the hurricanes are to punish sinners, does this mean God's behind global warming, too?