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).
