Hurricanes and Global Warming the Essay

Total Length: 681 words ( 2 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 1

Page 1 of 2

It is well-known that tropical cyclones form over warm water and it is the heat in the water from which they get their energy. Therefore it is reasonable to believe that warmer waters could increase hurricane intensity and activity. Warmer waters would translate into more energy to fuel the tropical cyclone and make their effects more pronounced. There is also evidence that global warming is contributing to changing circulation patterns.

Sea level rise due to warmer conditions which melts glaciers and sea ice can have a number of implications for the Earth's storm patterns. Many climate models have suggested that with warmer temperatures there would be higher wind speeds in hurricanes. In fact, one study shows a 70% increase since the mid-1970s of an index of hurricane activity related to the total power dissipation, which is proportional to the cube of the maximum wind speed, integrated over the lifetime of the storm (Anthes, et al., 2006). Therefore such a relationship would have significant implications for society on many levels.
One such implication would be building codes and ensuring that vulnerable areas are able to withstand stronger storms with higher wind speeds. There are also implications for storm surges because these are likely to grow stronger as well.

Because of all the variability that exists in the climate as well as the variability in hurricane seasons it is difficult to attribute changing hurricane conditions directly to global warming. Despite this difficulty, it does not follow that there is necessarily an insignificant relationship between hurricane frequency and intensity. Researchers are continually making stronger connections between the warmer climate and tropical cyclones and the same relationship should also affect hurricanes. These relationships will have important implications for society such as building codes and ensuring that building can withstand stronger storm conditions as well as the infrastructure needed to cope with storm surges and greater levels of flooding.

Works.....

Show More ⇣


     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Hurricanes And Global Warming The" (2013, April 16) Retrieved April 29, 2024, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/hurricanes-global-warming-101250

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"Hurricanes And Global Warming The" 16 April 2013. Web.29 April. 2024. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/hurricanes-global-warming-101250>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"Hurricanes And Global Warming The", 16 April 2013, Accessed.29 April. 2024,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/hurricanes-global-warming-101250