In a major study, the researchers saaid that warming climate would increase the number of tropical cyclones and their intensity in North Atlantic, which would lead to more and stronger hurricanes.
Pointing out that Atlantic hurricane seasons will become even more active in the future, and hurricanes would be even more intense, ther researchers saaid that it was not great news for people living in coastal regions.
The scientific journal Geophysical Research Letters recently published the findings. Ana C.T. Sena, an Iowa State postdoctoral research associate, is the first author.
THE METHOD
In the study, the scientists ran climate simulations using the Department of Energy’s Energy Exascale Earth System Model and found that tropical cyclone frequency could increase 66% during active North Atlantic hurricane seasons by the end of this century. They noted that the projected numbers of tropical cyclones could increase by 34% during inactive North Atlantic hurricane seasons. Apart from this, they projected an increase in storm intensity during the active and inactive storm seasons.
“Altogether, the co-occurring increase in (tropical cyclone) number and strength may lead to increased risk to the continental North Atlantic in the future climate,” the researchers wrote.