The warming of the atmosphere and the oceans would influence the intensity of the hurricanes in recent years. Scientists propose to stop calling these phenomena "natural disasters" to recognize the intervention of climate change in these events.
By José Díaz
Servindi, October 17, 2018.- A few days ago, it was one year since Hurricane Maria devastated the Caribbean. That climatological event caused the death of more than 6 thousand people, between Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and other Caribbean islands. Although 2018 has not been too destructive in terms of hurricanes, the debate on the influence of human activity on them remains open.
In recent years the intensity of the hurricanes has grown significantly, as well as the social and economic impact that they generate. Although most media still rate these events as "natural disasters," science has proven that humanity's actions in global warming make the effect of hurricanes more devastating.
"By blaming the nature of disasters, we are saying that there is nothing we can do, that we cannot do anything to reduce the risk. Something that is not the case," said Ksenia Chmutina, professor at the University of Loughborough in Britain.
Science has proven that the impact of hurricanes is directly related to the temperature of the oceans. As is common knowledge, the temperature of the seas has grown in recent years due to global warming, a phenomenon produced and accelerated in recent years by human activities that involve the emission of polluting gases.
The human factor
A recent report by the group of United Nations scientists revealed that, since the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century, human activity has caused an increase in global temperature by 1° Celsius. The latter would generate as consequences the warming of the atmosphere and the oceans, which would be linked to phenomena such as hurricanes and tornadoes.
Climate scientist and professor at Pennsylvania State University, Michael E. Mann proposes that hurricanes qualify as "non-natural disasters". For the American scientist in this way would not be denying the influence of climate change on these weather phenomena.
"The best scientific information we have now is that the odds of these intense hurricanes - from the point of view of both air and water - are increasing in many places due to global warming," explained Kerry A. Emanuel, professor of atmospheric science. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Most scientific opinions conclude that the warming of the oceans influences the intensity of hurricanes. This would add another reason to strengthen the fight against climate change globally.
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