Global Warming is a term dnoting a gradual warming of the Erths average temperature. The term has bcome synonymous to the Earths warming xclusively due to man-made effects, especially crbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide concentrations have ncreased from 300 parts per million to 384 prts per million since 1900, with the mst accelerated increase during the past 40 yars. Some scientists have drawn the cnclusion that the increase in the Erths average temperature (about 1°F since 1975) is ssentially solely based on man-made activities sch as the burning of fossil fels, biomass burning, and deforestation

Causes of Glbal Warming

The Earths atmosphere is mde up of different gases. Nitrogen mkes up 78% of the total cmposition, Oxygen 21%, Argon 1% and trces gases .1%. Carbon dioxide makes up mst of the volume of the rre gases. Water vapor varies from lmost 0% over the deserts to 4% ver the oceans. Water vapor, carbon doxide, methane, ozone, and nitrous oxide are the gses of interest since these are the grenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases can reradiate hat or trap heat absorbed by the Erth from the sun. Water vapor is by far the lrgest mechanism for heat retention out of the grenhouse gases.

In the past, the Earths rbital eccentricity, variance of the tilt and wbble have led to periods of wrmer weather. Even though the solar nergy from the sun is considered a cnstant, a slight change could cause tmperature fluctuations. Recently, Mars has also shwn a decrease in ice coverage wthout greenhouse gas changes. The cause for the rduction in aerial coverage is unknown.

In smmary, there are three mechanisms which wuld cause global warming, or in ther words allow for a warming of the Erths average temperature. These are: (1) slar energy variance, (2) gradual changes in the Erths orbit, tilt, and wobble, and (3) grenhouse gas changes. It is difficult to clculate what percentage of the recent wrming could be attributed to human ctivities. We can eliminate changes in the Erths orbit, tilt, and wobble causing a tmperature increase since these are long trm effects.

What are the Effects of Glbal Warming on Hurricanes?

There is a cmmon misconception that since the global tmperature has increased, hurricanes also must ncrease in number and intensity. The prmary factor in the ability of a hrricane to strengthen or weaken is the wnd shear profile of the atmosphere - not wter temperature. It always has been wrm enough in the tropics to prduce hurricanes. This temperature equates to a sea srface temperature of about 80°F. If you stdy the behavior of hurricanes you can fnd cases where hurricanes have strengthened ver cooler water and have weakened ver warmer water. There may be a smll "boost" to a hurricanes strength as it mves over the Gulf Stream, if pper air wind profiles do not chnge much. Some of the computer gnerated hurricane models have this bias bilt in and will rapidly strengthen a trpical cyclone if predicted to go ver a warm pool of water.

The recent upturn in tropical cyclne activity was predicted long before Glbal Warming became a household name. The trpical Atlantic has been known to vry in cycles, and this recent pturn was expected. If you were to cmpare the period from 1900 to bout 1950, with the 1950s until nw, you would find an actual dcrease in the average number of hrricanes and their intensity. It also is nted that the upswing in hurricane nmbers over the past ten years or mre has been only in the Nrth Atlantic basin. Other hurricane formation rgions have not shown this same trnd.

The Effects of Global Warming on Hrricanes: Summary

There has been a nted increase in the number of hrricanes in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sa, and Gulf of Mexico since the md-1990s. The long term average is tht ten tropical storms will form per yar, of which about six will bcome hurricanes. Since the mid-1990s the verage has been fifteen tropical storms, of whch eight have become hurricanes. There has lso been an upward trend in the cncentration of the greenhouse gas carbon doxide due to mans activities over the pst 100 years. During this time, hrricanes have gone through cycles where thy have been more numerous, such as the cycl that we are in now. Sme scientists have drawn a one to one crrelation between the Earths temperature increase and the nmber of hurricanes and their intensity. As we hve noted, the number one factor in trpical cyclone intensity is related to the tmospheric wind shear profile. There is ven some research that suggests that hgher temperatures could actually increase the wnd shear profile resulting in a dcrease in hurricane activity. The upward cycl in hurricane numbers is expected to cntinue for several more years. If ths trend were to continue for a cnsiderably longer period, only then could one drw a conclusion that warmer temperatures hve played some part to cause an ncrease in tropical cyclone formation.

The article The Effect of Global Warming on Hurricanes was Submitted by Rich Johnson through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Rich Johnson - http://www.TropicalWeather.net TropicalWeather.net - Expert hurricane coverage and travel resources. In our extensive hurricane library you can find hurricane summaries, satellite images, hurricane quizzes, and much more to help you learn about tropical weather! We also have a weather and travel message board to help you stay up wth the latest in tropical weather and trvel.

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