Will the Number of Storms Increase?

Will the Number of Storms Increase?

1. Yes

   • the number and intensity of tropical storms has doubled in the last 100 years
   • due to global warming,the surfaces of the tropical oceans have warmed up by 0.5°C in the last few decades
   • since 1995 hurricanes have become more frequent and intense, many over which have wind speeds over 200 km/h
   • the changes to the number of tropical storms are part of the natural cycle. An active period started in 1995
   • they appear to be becoming more destructive, in terms of the cost of damage they cause. In the USA 6/10 of the most expensive hurricanes have occurred since 1990.
     • In 2005 Hurricane Katrina caused damage estimated at over US $80 billion
     • in the past coastline threatened by typhoons were sparsely populated, but now many people choose to live by the coast or spend holidays there. The value of property has increased by the coast and much infrastructure is put up as the population increased. There is greater potential damage when tropical storms hit

2. No

   • technology predicts that the number of tropical storms will fall after 2080
   • short-term changes to the number of tropicsl storms may not be due to the actions of people
   • we don't have enough evidence linking global warming to chnages in the number of tropical storms