Hurricane, Climate Change Link Explained

MIT professor Kerry Emanuel tries to correct the misinterpretations of his latest research

By Gregory Mone Posted 04.30.2008 at 7:43 am 3 Comments

Katrina From Space NOAA

MIT meteorologist Kerry Emanuel got a ton of attention in 2005 when he published a paper in Nature demonstrating a link between global warming and hurricanes—especially since Katrina hit New Orleans just three weeks later.

Now Emanuel has published another major paper on the subject, and the media interpretations of his results are all over the place. The first paper was historical, whereas the new one, which hinges on computer models, covers the past but also projects patterns forward into the future. The work isn't as clear-cut as the first study, hence the rampant misinterpretations.

In a Q&A with MIT News, Emanuel explains it in his own words. No sound bites.

Previous Article: The Risks of Geoengineering

Next Article: Zero Watt Monitor

Want to learn more about the environment, solar energy, sustainability, and more? Subscribe to Popular Science and enter to win $5,000!

3 Comments

link to this comment

tundrasea

05/04/08 at 3:43 pm

Where have all the hurricanes gone? Remember how there were supposed to be record numbers in the year after Katrina? And the next?

The absence of predicted hurricanes gets very little mention in the media. Global warming alarmists are free to keep on predicting more hurricanes, and telling us about the link to global warming; because they know that the media has drunk their kool-aid; and will not call them on their failed predictions.

They'll keep making these predictions until, inevitably, we have another year with lots of hurricanes. Then the media will have a field day.

BTW, there has been no global warming since 1998 & the globe is now entering a cooling phase. Even the IPCC alarmists acknowledge this cooling -- although they're calling is a "hiatus" from warming. Meanwhile, they're now talking about "climate change" rather than global warming. We're supposed to forget that these greenhouse gases were supposed to cause warming. Now, whether it gets hotter or colder -- it's "climate change", and people are responsible.

When will this scam end?

link to this comment

menar003

05/04/08 at 5:42 pm

I am afraid that this scam will not end for many years. I noticed on Glenn Beck's program a month ago climate alarmists made the BBC change an article that mentioned people skeptical of climate change because global temperatures have not risen since 1998. As long as the media is in bed with these climate alarmists then there will be no end in sight.

link to this comment

Zeeea

07/16/08 at 6:39 pm

The problem is "climate change" is so unpredictable, so as far as the researchers go, its best to keep an open mind with the information they provide, and is why so many different ideas get around. Its not a bad thing until people dont understand they are mainly theories that havent been actually proven. Finding legitimate information that doesnt clash with other reputable sources is quite hard.

I think the media (who are the ones responsible for informing people of current events), have been playing on global warming and climate change instead of providing updated unbiased information. It makes you wonder what the agenda is for creating so much confusion and conflicting information on this?