Why Are Hurricanes Getting Worse?

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Hurricanes have been in the news lately for the wrong reasons and this seems to be happening more often. The U.S. has certainly had its ‘unfair share’ lately and now disaster has struck Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe. Climatologists warn of hurricanes getting worse because of global warming. We decided to find out why.

Typhoons, Cyclones and Hurricanes Getting Worse

hurricanes getting worse
Home of Hurricanes: NASA

All three storm types are the same. However we call them hurricanes if they happen in a band roughly between the United States and Africa. They are “like giant engines that use warm, moist air as fuel,” NASA explains. Hence, they form over warm oceans near the equator.

As the warm air rises from the surface it leaves lower air pressure below. As this ‘new air’ warms, it rises too. The surrounding air swirls in to take its place while the warm, moist air above gathers into clouds.  This system of wind and clouds spins and grows as it feeds off the ocean’s heat and water evaporating from the surface.

More Things You May Not Know About Hurricanes

Hurricanes are born at least eight degrees north or south of the equator. Storms to the south spin clockwise, and vice versa. They cannot cross to the other hemisphere because of Earth’s rotation on its axis. As the storm spins faster, an eye forms in the center. High pressure flows down through it creating transient calm.

hurricanes getting worse
Tropical Cyclone Categories: NASA

Global warming is raising the surface temperature of the ocean. This is why you may be hearing news of hurricanes getting worse. They usually weaken as they reach land because they can no longer feed off the warm ocean waters. However, they may still travel far inland as happened with the one that struck Mozambique.

These storms “dump many inches of rain and cause lots of wind damage before they die out completely,” NASA says. If the wind speed reaches 39 mph your news feed may warn of an approaching tropical storm. If it reaches 74 mph it officially becomes a tropical cyclone or hurricane, and you must seek shelter.

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About Author

I tripped over a shrinking bank balance and fell into the writing gig unintentionally. This was after I escaped the corporate world and searched in vain for ways to become rich on the internet by doing nothing. Despite the fact that writing is no recipe for wealth, I rather enjoy it. I will not deny I am obsessed with it when I have the time. I live in Margate on the Kwazulu-Natal south coast of South Africa. I work from home where I ponder on the future of the planet, and what lies beyond in the great hereafter. Sometimes I step out of my computer into the silent riverine forests, and empty golden beaches for which the area is renowned. Richard

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