Climate Change Intensifies Hurricanes: Hurricane Helene and Milton as Case Studies
A recent study reveals that climate change intensified Hurricane Helene, increasing its rainfall by 10% and winds by 11%. As Hurricane Milton approaches Florida, scientists warn of similar potential impacts due to climate change. With record rainfall and hurricane frequency on the rise, urgent action is needed to address these threats.
Recent studies indicate that human-induced climate change significantly exacerbated the severity of Hurricane Helene, enhancing its rainfall by approximately ten percent and its winds by about eleven percent. This assessment comes as Hurricane Milton approaches the Florida coast, presenting a potential threat in the wake of Helene’s destructive impact. The findings underscore the complicating role of climate change in severe weather events, with elevated ocean temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico and increased moisture content in the atmosphere fueling storm intensity. According to calculations by World Weather Attribution, the warming climate led to a rise in Helene’s wind speeds by around thirteen miles per hour (20.92 kilometers per hour) and rendered the high sea temperatures, which energized the storm, 200 to 500 times more probable. The Gulf’s ocean temperatures exceeded the average by approximately 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius). Ben Clarke, a climate researcher at Imperial College London and co-author of the study, elaborated, “Hurricane Helene and the storms that were happening in the region anyway have all been amplified by the fact that the air is warmer and can hold more moisture, which meant that the rainfall totals — which, even without climate change, would have been incredibly high given the circumstances — were even higher.” The impacts of Helene were devastating, with storm surges reaching record highs of fifteen feet (4.57 meters) and sustained winds peaking at 140 miles per hour (225.31 kilometers per hour). The hurricane caused widespread devastation across Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and Virginia, resulting in fatalities exceeding 230 and leaving millions without essential services. Furthermore, the storm discharged over 40 trillion gallons of rain, a staggering amount, which would have been significantly less severe in the absence of anthropogenic climate warming. Clarke noted, “When you start talking about the volumes involved, when you add even just a few percent on top of that, it makes it even much more destructive.” The statistical likelihood of hurricanes akin to Helene has surged, now occurring approximately 2.5 times more frequently than before. The organization World Weather Attribution, founded in 2015 to evaluate the climate change attribution to extreme weather incidents, reported that climate models indicated such storms were previously expected every 130 years but are now arguably more common. Kim Cobb, director of the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society, emphasized the need for enhanced emergency preparedness and resilience planning in light of these findings. She remarked that Helene and Milton should serve as significant reminders of the consequences of fossil fuel consumption and climate change. Cobb stated, “Going forward, additional warming that we know will occur over the next 10 or 20 years will even worsen the statistics of hurricanes, and we will break new records.” As Milton continues to intensify, analysis points to a direct relationship between climate change and its warming ocean temperatures. Clarke asserts that the pattern emerging from back-to-back storms like Helene and Milton showcases the potential future scenarios shaped by climate change if preventive measures are not taken. “As we go into the future and our results show this as well, we still have control over what trajectory this goes in as to what risks we face in the future, what costs we pay in the future,” he added. The ongoing issue of climate change poses urgent questions regarding energy systems and emissions.
The recent studies concerning Hurricanes Helene and Milton demonstrate the growing impact of climate change on the frequency and intensity of severe weather events. Understanding how anthropogenic factors augment natural disasters is crucial in formulating effective response strategies and future predictions related to hurricane activity and associated risks.
In conclusion, research indicates that human-caused climate change has significantly intensified the recent hurricanes, Helene and Milton, highlighting an alarming trend that necessitates urgent action to mitigate future risks. This situation serves as a clear call for improved climate strategies and greater emergency preparedness to address the escalating challenges posed by climate change.
Original Source: www.siouxlandproud.com
