Home / Weather News /

Study shows tropical activity increase

17:00
10 December 2021

More hurricanes?
Study shows tropical activity increase

Satellite image of Hurricanes Maria & Jose in September 2017. Image by NASA/NOAA GOES Project/Handout via REUTERS.Satellite image of Hurricanes Maria & Jose in September 2017. - © NASA/NOAA GOES Project

Studies have confirmed that climate change has increased the strength of tropical cyclones around the world because of warming oceans providing extra fuel for formation, but has there been an increase in them globally?

Since the 1970s, forecasters have used satellites to 'warn' in advance of storms, but the big question is whether there has been an increase in frequency when looking further back than the satellite era and over the last 150 years.

Recommended external content from YouTube

We need your consent to show content from YouTube. You can withdraw your consent at any time.

I agree that content from YouTube will be displayed to me.

Settings for external content

Privacy policy
Footage from within a hurricane was captured for the first time ever this season within the eye of Category 4 Hurricane Sam

Professor and scientist Kerry Emanuel from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) looked into this query by developing a climate model to reconstruct the past to see how many storms have formed over the last 150 years.

According to his study, there has been a marked increase in the number of tropical cyclones since the mid-19th Century, mainly over the North Atlantic Ocean. However, the cause for the increase is unknown at this time.

Emanuel though, does not rule out climate change. It is important to emphasise that while warming is global, the impacts are not the same at a global level. This could be why there was an increase over the North Atlantic.

Other experts have also produced studies and although they do not discredit Emanuel's research, they point out that there are many studies that do not necessarily indicate an increase in the number of storms.

However, studies like the one done by Emanuel using databases and scientific data, give hope that each time we look back we can learn more about the Earth's history and get a better idea of the impact we make on the world.

More on the topic
Wind radar and warning map for strong gusting winds across south-east Ireland, Wales, and the English south coast.
Tuesday 15 July 2025

For UK and Ireland

Pressure system prompts wind warnings
Wednesday 16 July 2025

Numerous fatalities

Heavy monsoon rains in Pakistan
Temperature radar of the UK and Ireland with heat warning, highs of 30+ degrees in England and Wales.
Thursday 10 July 2025

Take precautions

Third heatwave takes grip
All weather news
This might also interest you
Two weather radars side-by-side, one showing sunny conditions over the UK and the other a temperature map showing widespread warmth.
Thursday 10 July 2025

Breakfast brief

Turning sunnier and warmer
Monday 7 July 2025

Breakfast brief

Broadly dry, cooler start to the week
Tuesday 8 July 2025

Breakfast brief

Sunny in the east, overcast in the west
All articles
Weather & Radar

www.weatherandradar.ie

facebooktwitteryouTubeContact uslinkList
Privacy Policy | Legal info | Accessibility statement