 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
Is climate change making hurricanes worse? Certain things are clear. Since 1995, the Atlantic Ocean has produced powerful hurricanes at double the rate of the previous 25 years. And Earth’s climate is growing warmer. So since hurricanes feed on warm seawater, a warmer planet means a warmer ocean, which means more—and stronger—hurricanes. Right?
Here’s where it gets tricky. Hurricanes seem to come in cycles, 25- to 40-year periods of greater hurricane activity followed by quieter stretches. So should we chalk up an increase in hurricane activity to global warming—or is it part of a natural cycle? Or a little of both?
We still aren’t completely sure—but scientists are hard at work looking for answers.
 Tree-Ring Revelations
To compare the current hurricane “spike” against the long-range history of natural hurricane cycles, scientists need to understand that history. Since we only have records for hurricane activity going back about 150 years, this has been hard to do. But scientists have discovered a surprising “database” containing hundreds of years of hurricane history: really old trees.
The “data” is in the trees’ growth rings. Some tree species that grow in the southeastern United States, where hurricanes are common, live for centuries. Their growth rings contain information about how many hurricanes happened during the trees’ long lives. This extended view of hurricane history could help scientists study the relationship between hurricanes and our warming planet.
Continue to Hurricanes and Habitats. >>
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
