The global cooling caused by the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991 was blamed for the intensity of Hurricane Andrew. Global warming was blamed for Hurricane Katrina and the records broken by the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. Which viewpoint is right?
2006-07-22 08:00:31 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Environment
According to a new study by the National Center for Atmospheric Research global warming is responsible for about 50% of the increased hurricane activity world wide of which Katrina was one manifestation.
NASA Earth Observing System has studied the effects of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption and found that it affected hurricanes Andrew and Iniki in the fall of 1992, among other global weather effects in 1992.
I suspect both studies are correct. Your question implies that they are mutually exclusive. I think that presumes an overly simple cause for hurricanes.
It is worth noting that the effects of the volcanic eruption are limited largely to the following year, whereas the effects of global warming have been felt now for at least 50 years and will continue to build for well over another 1000 years.
2006-07-22 09:24:20 · answer #1 · answered by Engineer 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Neither. Global cooling and/or global warming are not caused by any single event, either man-made or natural. If either of these phenomena are actually occuring, it will be dtected by temperature and other measurements taken over HUNDREDS of years. That is why the debate rages so intensely. There is nothing resembling scientific agreement on this.
What you see in the news is not the discussion among scientests, but the panic and counter charges of people who chose to believe whatever side of the debate most closely matches their agenda.
I must repeat. Neither of the two viewpoints you post are right.
2006-07-22 15:11:09 · answer #2 · answered by Vince M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hurricanes are caused by cool air, warm ocean. Both could be accurate.
2006-07-22 17:09:53 · answer #3 · answered by misslabeled 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have not heard of the cooling theory regarding Andrew.
I believe that the average temperature of the Atlantic continues to rise, and that warmer water has been associated with bigger and stronger storms.
2006-07-22 15:04:48 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Neither.Only meteors cause hurricanes.
2006-07-22 15:20:05 · answer #5 · answered by Balthor 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is our fault.
2006-07-22 15:03:33 · answer #6 · answered by maccie211 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋