Climate change and hurricanes are a favorite topic for people who live along the Gulf Coast, especially. I know this because I live along the Gulf Coast and every year weather forecasters talk more and more about how climate change and hurricanes are related, and what it means for people in hurricane prone locations. The primary things to consider when discussing climate change and hurricanes is the storm surge, strength of the hurricane, and the population centers that will be effected.
Storm Surge
The storm surge is just the water that is moved to the shore by the wind from the storm. How bad the storm surge is depends on several things, the most important being the existing level of the water. For example if the hurricane comes in during high tide the storm surge is going to reach further inland. Likewise, if the hurricane comes in during low tide the storm surge is not going to reach as far and should do less damage. One of the things that is happening with climate change is the sea level is slowly rising due to the melting of the glaciers. This higher water level means that the storm surge will be higher during both high tide and low tide, presumably making the damage worse as well.
Hurricane Strength
A hurricane gets its strength from the warmth of the water. It’s sort of like gas for a car. Climate change tends to make the waters warmer, which has the potential to give the hurricane more strength. Just like pushing the gas pedal on your car. As long as global warming continues, the climate change trend is for the waters to get warmer. This means for the foreseeable future hurricanes may gain strength and cause more inland destruction.
Population
Population has more of an indirect link to climate change. While the climate has been favorable and truly devastating hurricanes rare, people felt comfortable moving to hurricane prone coastal areas. Over the past hundred years the population along the Gulf Coast particularly has exploded. Now that climate change seems to be intensifying the destructive power of the hurricanes, as well as their frequency, more people and physical property is being affected.