Spreading Awareness, Encouraging Action
Hurricanes
A hurricane begins as a tropical atmospheric disturbance that may develop into a violent, cyclonic storm with high winds and heavy rain. Human-caused global warming is raising the temperature of the world’s oceans and increasing their evaporation. These two impacts intensify the strength of hurricanes. Even small increases in the warmth of the ocean can lead to more severe hurricanes. This can increase the existing storm’s power and add to its rainfall. The
number of hurricanes in any given year is strongly influenced by the
seasonal ocean patterns known as El Nino and La Nina.
A tropical cyclone is called a... - Hurricane in the Atlantic and northeastern and southern Pacific, a - Typhoon in the northwestern Pacific, and a - Cyclone in the Indian Ocean and Australian region.
Source: Warmer Oceans, Stronger Hurricanes, by Kevin E Trenberth, Scientific American, July 2007 EIGHT NORTHBROOK PARK - LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02420 USA TELEPHONE (781) 863-1400 - info@gwenet.org - FACSIMILE (781) 863-1441 |
