Are hurricanes natures way of redressing a natural imbalance in the oceans and atmosphere?

Question

If so, as they seem to be getting stronger and more frequent should we be taking note sooner rather than later?

Answer 1

The jury is still out on weather/climate patterns, but here's somethings that most scientists would agree with (at least on a layman's level of interpretation):

- Hurricanes aren't a way to repair imbalances, they are a totally natural phenomenon caused by the laws of physics and solar energy. (Earth without humans would still experience hurricanes.)
- The increased number of hurricanes may well be due to abnormal imbalances in atmosphere/oceans--nature alone doesn't really explain why it's happening.
- Human impacts (greenhouse gasses, pollution) on the atmosphere might be the main explanation for the increased hurricanes, but the earth undergoes patterns that we simply do not understand, or may not even know.
- We should be taking note of the increased incidence of hurricanes (as well as tornadoes, cyclones, floods, droughts, etc). Even if they are not increased by human activities, they are damaging to nature, and understanding them will help alleviate damages & suffering. If the increase is human caused, then understanding them will help us in repairing the problems we're causing.

In short: the increased weather phenomenon is probably a result of human activities, but even if they aren't, it's safer/better for us to understand them rather than ignore them. The IPCC did conclude that global temperature rise is more than likely due to human influence, and warmer temperatures will probably cause more nasty weather patterns. (But both of these points are still debated, though it's still a better idea to be safe, rather than sorry.)

Answer 2

The atmosphere/ocean build up a concentration of heat energy. The hurricane is simply the way that heat dissipates. Greater concentration of heat energy means stronger/more intense storms.

By taking note sooner do you mean locating them earlier?
A Hurricane is formed when a tropical storm continues to grow. As tropical storms are already tracked, potential hurricanes are already being tracked. We only hear about the big ones, but fishermen, airlines etc take notice of any bad weather likely to hit their area.

Improvements could hopefully be made in predicting which tropical storms become hurricanes, and where their path will be.

Answer 3

Oceans are the spawning grounds for hurricanes and other storms. One of the most important factors is the surface temperature of the water, as temps increase they cause more hurricanes. However, it's not quite as simple as that as other factors are at work.

What we have seen globally in the last 30 years is an 80% increase in the number of severe storms and a 50% increase in their intensity.

There is some evidence to suggest that hurricane formation changes it's phase every few decades and that we're presently in an active phase. This would go some way to explaining the increased storm activity but fails to explain why there has been a corresponding increase in the number and intensity of cyclones, typhoons and tornadoes etc.

One of the problems is that there's only 35 years worth of reliable satellite data and this is too short a period of time to draw any definite conclusions. It's safe to say that storm activity has increased and that global warming is a contributor but by just how much we can't say.

Here's a couple of scientific articles that have more info...
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/309/5742/1844/
ftp://texmex.mit.edu/pub/emanuel/PAPERS/NATURE03906.pdf

Answer 4

I agree with the first poster. Yeh, we are damaging the earth, but not enough to produce something as massive as increase in hurricanes. In the past 100 years, the oceans have absorbed 20 times more heat than before - and 2 major indications of hurricanes are heat and humidity. This increase is not totally relative to Global Warming

Answer 5

The bible identifies Jehovah God as the Grand Creator of all things, including the natural forces of this earth. Gen 1:1: In the beginning God Created the heavens and the earth. Neh 9:6: You are Jehovah alone, you yourself have made the heavens, even the heaven of the heavens, and all their army, the earth and all that is upon it, the seas and all that is in them; and you are preserving all of them alive; and the army of the heavens are bowing down to you. Heb 3:4 Of course, every house is constructed by someone, but he that constructed all things is God. Rev 4:11 You are worthy, Jehovah, even our God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power, because you created all things, and because of your will they existed and were created. This does not mean that he causes every movement of wind or every rain shower. Rather, he has set in motion certain laws that govern the earth and the environment. Not only is Jehovah the Creator of natural forces but he also has the power to control them. Throughout the bible we find accounts of Jehovah's controlling or manipulating such forces to accomplish his purpose. (the parting of the red sea, etc.) But sadness, wickedness, and death are not part of God plan. God will deal with all the natural forces so that they will no longer be the cause of any harm.

Answer 6

on a historic level the storms are following the same pattern of strength and frequency
these storms (hurricanes,tornados,blizzards etc...)are Mother Natures way of controlling what we have come to call Global Warming

the earth has been here alot longer than man
and knows how to regulate the overall temps and conditions

Answer 7

Yes, natural phenomenon like we have seen (weather in general) is natures way of cleaning the Earth and keeping the natural balance of things.

Answer 8

Hurricanes have been their for years well before climate change where have you been living on the moon.

Answer 9

Its mother nature sneezing

Answer 10

of course it is. why are these "environMENTALists" back pedaling now?

we've all been told that the weather would get more severe as time goes on.

why change the tune in the middle of the dance?