Fewer, but more intense hurricanes

A new model predicts fewer, but more intense hurricanes for the last two decades of this century. This model has "higher resolution and an improved ability to simulate past observed changes in Atlantic hurricane activity." When tested, the new model accurately simulated the past hurricane seasons from 1980 to 2006.

Many have debated the affect of "greenhouse warming" and future hurricane seasons. If "greenhouse warming" is in fact occurring, some scientists expect the rise in sea water temperatures would increase the number of hurricanes in future hurricane seasons. This new models shows the opposite. The model indicates an increase in wind shear and other components which would actually decrease the number of hurricanes per season.

Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

But let’s talk about the current hurricane season….

Less than two weeks away from the start of the Atlantic hurricane season, but the Eastern Pacific hurricane season began on May 15th. A while ago we blogged about the 2008 Atlantic hurricane names. Here are the 2008 Eastern Pacific hurricane names:

Alma
Boris
Cristina
Douglas
Elida
Fausto
Genevieve
Hernan
Iselle
Julio
Karina
Lowell
Marie
Norbert
Odile
Polo
Rachel
Simon
Trudy
Vance
Winnie
Xavier
Yolanda
Zeke