The Impact of Climate Change on the Intensity of Storms

Hurricane Irma has reached the southeastern coast of the United States and the state of Florida. This hurricane is one of the strongest storms recorded in the Atlantic Ocean in years. Another storm named 'Jose' is following Irma and its strength is increasing by the moment. Last week, Hurricane Harvey swept through southern Texas, leaving several dead and causing billions of dollars in damage. The question that has arisen again is: should these storms be attributed to climate change as predicted by scientists? Dr. Michael Mann, a professor at Penn State University in the U.S., believes that this is indeed the case. He told NPR that 'our current knowledge almost certainly indicates that climate change is making storms stronger.' According to NPR, scientists say that hurricanes Irma and Harvey would have been severe storms even seventy-five years ago when the Earth's atmosphere and ocean temperatures had not yet warmed, but now they are getting bigger and bigger. The intensification of storms and their increasing power is due to the fact that the oceans and the Earth's atmosphere are, on average, warmer than before, and this heat has intensified the storms. But not only has the intensity of these storms increased, but their number has also risen. Warm air, due to the greater distance between molecules, can hold more water vapor, which leads to heavier rainfall; an occurrence that happened during Hurricane Harvey, which submerged large parts of Houston, Texas. Another reason for the dangerous nature of storms is the amount of ocean water they bring to shore. The phenomenon of rising sea levels due to decreased air pressure and storm winds is called 'storm surge.' Strong winds push a massive amount of ocean water onto land, creating a surge. Newsweek reports that the rising sea levels due to increased melting of polar ice have caused even smaller surges today to result in significant flooding and destruction. However, not all casualties and financial losses from storms can be attributed to climate change. When a storm makes landfall, the preparedness of that area against wind and flooding plays a crucial role in the extent of the damage. For example, one of the main reasons for the flooding in Houston, Texas, after Hurricane Harvey was the lack of necessary infrastructure for water absorption into the ground. In this context, Hurricane Irma is moving towards Florida after devastating the Caribbean islands. The United Nations: Hurricane 'Irma' affects the lives of 37 million people. The dollar, financial markets, and oil are affected by Hurricane Irma.