A study indicates that Cyclone Chido was intensified by climate change, becoming the strongest cyclone to hit Mayotte in 90 years. The likelihood of such intense cyclones has increased by 40% due to global warming. While comprehensive impacts are still being assessed, the cyclone’s damage reflects the increasing severity of storms linked to climate change.
A recent preliminary study conducted by scientists from Imperial College London has established a connection between climate change and the intensified impact of Cyclone Chido as it approached the Indian Ocean archipelago of Mayotte. The study indicated that cyclones of Chido’s magnitude are now 40 percent more probable in the current climate of 2024 than they were in pre-industrial times. When Cyclone Chido struck on Saturday, it was the most destructive cyclone to affect Mayotte in nearly a century, causing devastation to numerous tin-roofed homes in this economically vulnerable French overseas territory.
Cyclone Chido was classified as a Category 4 storm on the five-point Saffir-Simpson scale, marking it as one of the most powerful storms to impact the archipelago, where almost a third of its population resides in makeshift accommodations. The complete extent of the disaster remains undetermined, but there are grave concerns that the death toll could rise significantly. The scientists analyzed the potential influence of global warming on the cyclone’s characteristics, utilizing an advanced computer model that simulates millions of tropical cyclones in order to understand variations linked to climate change.
The findings from their assessments suggested that wind speeds in the vicinity of Chido’s landfall have surged by 3 miles per second when compared to the climate conditions prior to the advent of fossil fuel usage. The study concluded that climate change, particularly through the warming of oceans and atmosphere, has elevated the intensity of storms like Chido from a Category 3 to a Category 4 level. While France’s weather service has refrained from definitively linking the severity of Cyclone Chido to climate change, they acknowledge that the warming of oceans, as a result of anthropogenic climate factors, has been implicated in enhancing storm violence.
The cyclone fully struck Mayotte, with Meteo-France noting that Chido’s impact was significantly dictated by its trajectory over the island. Notably, the global climate has warmed by approximately 1.3 degrees Celsius since pre-industrial times, leading to more frequent and extreme weather conditions. The increase in atmospheric temperature allows for greater moisture retention and intensified evaporation rates of warmer oceans, conditions that further exacerbate the development of tropical storms.
The relationship between climate change and the intensity of tropical storms has garnered considerable attention in recent years. As average global temperatures rise, the implications for weather patterns become increasingly evident. Warmer air holds more moisture, and higher ocean temperatures fuel developing storms. These changes contribute to an increase in both the frequency and intensity of severe weather events, including cyclones. Understanding the link between climate change and cyclones, such as Cyclone Chido, is paramount as it influences preparedness, response strategies, and future climate policy.
In summary, the findings from the Imperial College London study underscore the significant influence of climate change on the intensity and frequency of tropical storms, represented by Cyclone Chido’s impact on Mayotte. The study highlighted that extreme weather events are becoming more intense due to human-induced climate change, with harsher storms posing increased risks to vulnerable regions. This connection calls for urgent attention to climate change mitigation efforts to safeguard communities disproportionately affected by severe weather phenomena.
Original Source: www.france24.com
