GLOBAL WARMING AND GLOBAL WARMING AND HURRICANESHURRICANES

Natural Disasters and/or Natural Disasters and/or

Political Debacles?Political Debacles?

What is global warming?What is global warming?

Global warming: the gradual increase Global warming: the gradual increase in the earth's surface temperature.in the earth's surface temperature.

Greenhouse gas: a gas which traps Greenhouse gas: a gas which traps the sun's heat inside the earth's the sun's heat inside the earth's atmosphere. (i.e. carbon dioxide)atmosphere. (i.e. carbon dioxide)

Is global warming natural or Is global warming natural or man-made?man-made?

Human causesHuman causes: increase in carbon : increase in carbon dioxide levels resulting from use of dioxide levels resulting from use of fossil fuels.fossil fuels.

Natural causesNatural causes: increasing solar heat; : increasing solar heat; natural course of climate change.natural course of climate change.

How has global warming potentially How has global warming potentially affected hurricane frequency and affected hurricane frequency and

intensity?intensity?

Hurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrina

Hurricane ActivityHurricane Activity

Frequency: # of hurricanes that Frequency: # of hurricanes that occuroccur

Intensity: maximum wind speed of Intensity: maximum wind speed of the hurricanethe hurricane

Category 3 and above = major Category 3 and above = major hurricanehurricane

How Do We Measure How Do We Measure Hurricanes?Hurricanes?

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane ScaleSaffir-Simpson Hurricane ScaleCategoryCategory Wind Wind

speed speed (mph)(mph)

Storm Storm surge (ft)surge (ft)

11 74 - 9574 - 95 4 - 54 - 5

22 96 - 11096 - 110 6 - 86 - 8

33 111 - 130111 - 130 9 - 129 - 12

44 131 - 155131 - 155 13 - 1813 - 18

55 > 155> 155 > 18> 18

Recent surge in hurricane Recent surge in hurricane activityactivity

Expected # of hurricanes in 2004: 6Expected # of hurricanes in 2004: 6

Actual # of hurricanes in 2004: 9Actual # of hurricanes in 2004: 9

(Florida experienced four major (Florida experienced four major hurricanes that season, most in hurricanes that season, most in Florida's history.)Florida's history.)

Expected # of hurricanes in 2005: 9Expected # of hurricanes in 2005: 9

Actual # of hurricanes in 2005: 14Actual # of hurricanes in 2005: 14

(Wilma: the most powerful hurricane (Wilma: the most powerful hurricane ever in the Atlantic basin.)ever in the Atlantic basin.)

Hurricanes & Global WarmingHurricanes & Global WarmingIs global warming responsible for Is global warming responsible for increased hurricane activity?increased hurricane activity?

There is a link between higher ocean There is a link between higher ocean temperatures and increased hurricane temperatures and increased hurricane activity.activity.

Global warming Global warming higher ocean higher ocean temperaturestemperatures

Higher ocean temperature Higher ocean temperature increased increased hurricane activityhurricane activity

Therefore, global warming Therefore, global warming increased increased hurricane activity.hurricane activity.

Natural Disaster Natural Disaster and/or Political Debacle?and/or Political Debacle?

Scientific Censorship, Scientific Censorship, the NOAA & the Politics of the NOAA & the Politics of

KnowledgeKnowledge

Did You Know...?Did You Know...?

NASA, The National Science NASA, The National Science Foundation, The National Institutes of Foundation, The National Institutes of Health are all part of the Executive Health are all part of the Executive Branch of Government, lead by Branch of Government, lead by members who must ultimately members who must ultimately answer to the President.answer to the President.

What is the NOAA?What is the NOAA?

The National Oceanic and The National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationAtmospheric Administration

National Government Agency under National Government Agency under the Commerce Departmentthe Commerce Department

The NOAA employs scientists and The NOAA employs scientists and scientific researchers for the scientific researchers for the production of government funded production of government funded knowledge and information. knowledge and information.

Scientific CensorshipScientific Censorship

Tom Knutson Vs. Chris Landsea Tom Knutson Vs. Chris Landsea • Nature Journal Article DebateNature Journal Article Debate

Kerry EmanuelKerry Emanuel• MIT Professor censored for citing Global MIT Professor censored for citing Global

warming as a cause for Hurricanceswarming as a cause for Hurricances David Baltimore- David Baltimore- President of the AAAS - President of the AAAS -

• American Association for the Advancement of Science is quoted as American Association for the Advancement of Science is quoted as calling "for opposition to the Bush's administration of 'suppression of calling "for opposition to the Bush's administration of 'suppression of science.'"science.'"

Political Debacle (?)Political Debacle (?)