A recent study suggests that Climate Change intensified Cyclone Chido as it struck Mayotte, estimating a 40 percent increase in the likelihood of such storms by 2024 compared to pre-industrial levels. Chido was classified as a Category 4 storm, and officials are concerned about its devastating impact on the region’s vulnerable population.
Recent findings from a preliminary study conducted by scientists at Imperial College London indicate that Climate Change played a significant role in exacerbating the intensity of Cyclone Chido, which recently impacted the Indian Ocean archipelago of Mayotte. The study revealed that cyclones with Chido’s strength are now 40 percent more probable in the warmer climate predicted for 2024 compared to pre-industrial times. Classified as a Category 4 storm, Chido was the most devastating cyclone to strike Mayotte in nearly ninety years, causing extensive damage and leaving officials concerned about a potential rising death toll amongst the population, where many reside in makeshift shelters.
To understand the implications of global warming on such storms, the researchers utilized advanced computer modeling techniques to analyze historical cyclone data, discovering that wind speeds in the areas affected by Chido had increased by 3 miles per second compared to earlier climatological conditions. The study concluded that Climate Change elevated the cyclone’s intensity from a Category 3 to a Category 4 storm. Though the French weather service has not definitively linked Chido’s intensity to global warming, it acknowledged that warmer oceans due to climate change have intensified storm violence. With the Earth’s temperature approximately 1.3 degrees Celsius higher than pre-industrial levels, the impact of Climate Change on tropical storm activity is becoming clearer.
Warmer atmospheric conditions enhance the evaporation of ocean waters, increasing humidity in the air and thereby bolstering the energy that tropical storms require to develop and strengthen, leading to more severe weather occurrences. This study on Cyclone Chido is yet another indicator of the intricate relationship between a warming climate and the devastating effects of natural disasters.
The effects of Climate Change on weather patterns have become an area of significant concern globally. Scientists assert that higher global temperatures are contributing to more intense and frequent tropical storms. As the climate continues to warm due to human activities, researchers aim to understand how much of the increased severity of these storms can be attributed specifically to global warming. Cyclone Chido serves as a stark reminder of this looming issue, affecting vulnerable communities like that of Mayotte.
In conclusion, the preliminary study from Imperial College London highlights the growing impact of Climate Change on tropical storms, exemplified by Cyclone Chido’s intensified strength and destructive capabilities. The findings indicate that the likelihood of similar storm intensities has increased significantly in the current warming climate. While the full extent of the cyclone’s devastation is yet to be determined, this event underscores the urgent need to understand and mitigate the effects of climate change on weather patterns globally.
Original Source: www.barrons.com
