A new study shows that human-caused climate change intensified Hurricane Helene’s rainfall by 10% and wind speeds by 11%. This analysis highlights that warmer ocean conditions, attributed to climate change, are increasingly fueling hurricanes, increasing their intensity and frequency. Scientists warn of future risks and emphasize the urgency for climate action and preparedness in light of the expected impacts of ongoing climate change.
A recent study conducted by scientists revealed that human-induced climate change significantly contributed to the intensity of Hurricane Helene, enhancing its rainfall by approximately 10% and increasing wind speeds by about 11%. This study was released as Hurricane Milton, which poses a similar threat to the Florida coast, continues to strengthen, barely two weeks following Helene’s catastrophic impact. The analysis from World Weather Attribution indicated that warm ocean temperatures, which were notably elevated—by 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius) above average—rendered the conditions that fueled Helene 200 to 500 times more probable. Ben Clarke, a climate researcher at Imperial College London and co-author of the study, stated, “Hurricane Helene and the storms that were happening in the region anyway have all been amplified by the fact that the air is warmer and can hold more moisture.” The study further warned that if fossil fuel consumption persists, the occurrence of extreme hurricanes like Helene will likely increase, compounding issues associated with flooding, particularly inland flooding that has historically claimed numerous lives. Helene’s landfall in Florida produced severe storm surges of up to 15 feet and winds up to 140 miles per hour, leading to widespread devastation across Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and Virginia, resulting in over 230 fatalities and millions affected. Meteorologists estimated that Helene released more than 40 trillion gallons of rainfall, a figure that would have been significantly less if climate change had not occurred. Clarke remarked, “When you start talking about the volumes involved, when you add even just a few percent on top of that, it makes it even much more destructive.” The study also highlighted a concerning trend, noting that hurricanes of Helene’s severity, once expected to occur every 130 years, are now approximately 2.5 times more likely in the affected regions. The World Weather Attribution team analyzed various climate models to ascertain the extent of climate change’s impact on Helene and projected similar outcomes for future storms. In a separate yet related inquiry, researchers from the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Lab found that climate change was responsible for 50% more rainfall in specific areas of Georgia and the Carolinas, with the likelihood of such rainfall being increased up to 20 times due to global warming. While this study was also not peer-reviewed, it utilized established methodologies relevant to assessing hurricane impacts. Kim Cobb, director of the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society, who was not involved in these studies, emphasized the urgency of preparedness and resilience planning in light of these findings. “Going forward, additional warming that we know will occur over the next 10 or 20 years will even worsen the statistics of hurricanes,” she warned. Overall, analysts are already indicating that climate change has played a critical role in the rising sea temperatures that contributed to Hurricane Milton’s rapid intensification, with the concurrent occurrences of these large storms serving as a potential indicator of future climate scenarios under unchecked global warming. Clarke ultimately concluded, “As we go into the future… this just hinges on how we change our energy systems and how many more fossil fuels we burn.”
The phenomenon of climate change, chiefly driven by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels, is increasingly implicated in the exacerbation of extreme weather events, including hurricanes. Recent studies have focused on quantifying the extent to which climate change influences the frequency, intensity, and destructiveness of such storms. This article discusses the impact of climate change on Hurricane Helene’s severity and the potential implications for future storms like Hurricane Milton, highlighting the urgent need for effective climate action and preparedness strategies.
In summary, human-induced climate change has demonstrably enhanced the intensity and frequency of hurricanes, as evidenced by the recent studies on both Hurricane Helene and the impending Hurricane Milton. The increasing likelihood of severe storms necessitates urgent action to address fossil fuel consumption to mitigate future risks. The findings underscore a critical need for improved preparedness and resilience planning to safeguard vulnerable communities from the escalating impacts of climate change.
Original Source: www.wtnh.com
