Climate Change Intensified Impact of Hurricane Helene, Study Reveals
A study by World Weather Attribution indicates that climate change intensified Hurricane Helene, increasing wind speeds by 11 percent and rainfall by 10 percent. The severe storm, which struck in late September, resulted in over 230 fatalities and widespread destruction across the southeastern United States. The report warns that as climate change continues, similar storms may become even more frequent and intense.
A recent study conducted by World Weather Attribution reveals that climate change significantly exacerbated the impact of Hurricane Helene, which struck in late September, claiming at least 230 lives and wreaking havoc across the southeastern United States. The report indicates that climate change heightened the storm’s wind speeds by approximately 11 percent, translating to an increase of 13 miles per hour (21 kilometers per hour), and augmented the associated rainfall by about 10 percent. Furthermore, it noted that conditions in the warming climate increased the likelihood of such high sea temperatures, which serve as fuel for storms, by up to 500 times. Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida on September 26, bringing with it a record storm surge of 15 feet (4.57 meters) and winds that reached a ferocious 140 mph (225 km/h). The storm impacted states such as Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and Virginia, resulting in extensive power outages and substantial destruction in rural Appalachian communities. The report emphasizes that the severity of the precipitation associated with Helene would have remained notably lower had it not been for human-induced climate change, which has warmed the planet by an average of 1.3 degrees Celsius (2.34 degrees Fahrenheit) primarily due to the combustion of fossil fuels. The study projected that if carbon emissions continue to rise, creating a climate scenario with a temperature increase of 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), the frequency of severe rainfall events akin to that of Hurricane Helene could increase by an additional 15 to 25 percent.
The implications of climate change on extreme weather phenomena have garnered increasing attention from researchers and policymakers alike. As global temperatures continue to rise due to human activities, relevant studies seek to understand how these changes amplify the intensity and frequency of severe weather events. The case of Hurricane Helene stands as a stark illustration of this, exhibiting how even a modest increase in temperature can significantly enhance the destructive capacity of storms. The intersection of climate change and natural disasters, such as hurricanes, has led to a deeper investigation into the potential future scenarios if greenhouse gas emissions remain unchecked.
In summary, Hurricane Helene serves as a harrowing example of the ravaging effects that climate change can have on extreme weather patterns. According to the World Weather Attribution report, the storm’s intensity was directly affected by climate change, leading to stronger winds and heavier rainfall, which contributed to widespread devastation and loss of life. The stark calculations presented in the study underscore the urgent need for addressing climate change to mitigate the escalation of such catastrophic events in the future.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
