Why do some scientists think that global warming would increase the strength of hurricanes?
1 Answer
Hurricanes form from the vacuum (low pressure) that remains after heat causes water to evaporate and rise in a position near the equator. More heat, more warm moist air rises and at a faster rate.
Explanation:
When a great deal of warm water forms near the equator, evaporation occurs at a faster rate, creating a warm air mass that quickly rise into the atmosphere. As this air rises, it displaces the air above, creating a vortex (like water going down a drain, but in reverse). This warm air rising leaves behind a low pressure air system, as this low pressure system moves towards land, it increases the height of the water body directly underneath (storm surge responding to the "vacuum").
)
Global warming impacts the magnitude of these naturally occurring forces - it results in warmer water near the equator, creating larger warm & moisture laden air masses (source of rain and wind) rising and creating more significant low pressure system above the ocean (larger storm surges).
