Podcast Summary
Hurricanes: Born from Tranquil Conditions, Bringing Fury and Destruction: Hurricanes start as clusters of thunderstorms, form a common center, and can become tropical storms or hurricanes based on wind speed. Powerful hurricanes, or major hurricanes, can have winds exceeding 157 miles per hour. Calm upper atmosphere conditions are required for their formation.
Hurricanes, while born from seemingly tranquil conditions, can bring about the most furious and destructive weather on Earth. This year's hurricane season, which officially ended on November 30th, was characterized by its activity, though not quite reaching the record-breaking levels of the previous year. Matthew Capucci, a meteorologist, explained that hurricanes begin as clusters of thunderstorms that interact and form a common center, spinning counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere. As they grow stronger, they can be designated as tropical storms when winds reach 39 miles per hour and hurricanes when winds exceed 74 miles per hour. The most powerful hurricanes, known as major hurricanes and category fives, can have winds over 157 miles per hour. Despite their destructive potential, hurricanes require calm conditions in the upper atmosphere to form, making their formation all the more fascinating. This year's season saw a busy period, with several named storms, but it's important to remember that even one storm can leave a significant impact. The discussion also touched on the possibility of climate change affecting hurricanes, a topic for further exploration.
Unusual 'binary' pattern in 2021 Atlantic hurricane season: The 2021 Atlantic hurricane season was highly active in the first half, but unusually quiet in the second half due to increased sinking air and disrupted wind patterns.
The 2021 Atlantic hurricane season was highly active in the early months, with 21 named storms and even dipping into the Greek alphabet for additional names. However, the second half of the season was unusually quiet, with only one weak tropical storm, Wanda, developing in late October. This "binary" pattern, with one side extremely active and the other side nearly inactive, is unusual for Atlantic hurricane seasons. One possible explanation is the increased sinking air towards the end of the season, which suppressed storm growth. Additionally, there was a significant change in wind speed and direction with height, which disrupted any storm development. The term "fish storm" refers to powerful storms that pass over the open water and affect only the fish, as they avoid making landfall. Some notable storms from the season include a category 3 hurricane that impacted Veracruz, Mexico, and Hurricane Ida, which hit Louisiana as a high-end category 4 storm, with winds of 150 miles per hour and a recorded gust of 100 mph at Port Fourchon, one of the highest gusts ever recorded in US history.
Hurricane Ida's Devastating Impact on Two Regions of the US: Hurricane Ida caused devastating damage in Louisiana with a storm surge, strong winds, and dozens of deaths. Its remnants brought historic flooding to the Northeast, resulting in additional deaths and record-breaking rainfall, highlighting the potential for increased extreme weather events due to climate change.
Hurricane Ida caused devastating damage in two distinct regions of the United States. In southeastern Louisiana, the storm brought a destructive storm surge, strong winds, and killed dozens of people. However, Ida's remnants then brought historic flooding to the Northeastern United States, resulting in additional deaths and record-breaking rainfall. This event underscores the potential for increased extreme weather events due to climate change. While the number of storms may not increase significantly, the intensity of those that form is expected to be much higher. Hurricane Ida is a recent example of this trend, rapidly intensifying into a major hurricane before making landfall. The consequences of such rapid intensification can be catastrophic, particularly for coastal communities trying to prepare for the approaching storm. The study by Kerry Emanuel at MIT further emphasizes the connection between climate change and rapid intensification of storms, adding to the urgency for adaptation and mitigation strategies.
Climate change intensifies storms with heavy rainfall: Climate change amplifies storms' destructive power, leading to more deaths and damage from heavy rainfall, which is often overlooked.
Climate change is supercharging storms, making them stronger and capable of holding more moisture, leading to increased heavy rainfall and potential flood disasters. While we focus on the winds when discussing hurricanes, it's essential to remember that rainfall is just as significant and can cause more damage and fatalities. The industry's stubbornness to change the focus from wind to rainfall makes it crucial to recognize the importance of rainfall in tropical cyclones. The slow motion disaster of flooding causes five times more deaths from freshwater flooding compared to wind. Hurricanes like Harvey and Imelda serve as examples of the devastating impact of heavy rainfall, and it's time to redraw the lines and reconsider how often extreme rainfall will occur in affected areas.
Moving Beyond Wind Speed: Understanding Specific Threats from Extreme Weather Events: Climate change increases the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, requiring us to build stronger and more resilient infrastructure. We should use each event as a learning opportunity to improve, not just rebuild.
We need to move beyond categorizing threats solely based on wind speed and instead focus on specific threats such as rainfall, wind, and other hazards. Climate change is a pressing issue that requires us to consider the potential impact of extreme weather events on our infrastructure and communities. The frequency and intensity of these events are increasing, making it essential to build stronger and more resilient infrastructure. Unfortunately, we are not seizing the opportunities presented by natural disasters like hurricanes to rebuild stronger communities. Instead, we should use each event as a chance to learn and improve. The discussion also emphasized the importance of effective communication about climate change and its impacts. Overall, the conversation underscored the need for a more nuanced understanding of the threats we face and the importance of taking action to mitigate their impact. The episode was produced by Eva Testify, edited by Gisele Grayson and fact checked by Margaret Cirino and Rasha Aridi. The audio engineer was Patrick Murring. I'm Thomas Lu. Thanks for listening to Shortwave, the daily science podcast from NPR. Support for this NPR podcast and the following message comes from Easycater, committed to helping companies from nonprofits to the Fortune 500 find food for meetings and company events with online ordering and 24/7 live support. Learn more at easycater.com.
