How a warmer world may impact hurricane intensity toward the end of this century

New research from the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) looked at 22 recent hurricanes then factored in the influence of a warmer climate near the end of this century. The team, led by Ethan Gutmann, wanted to see if there would be any significant changes to the characteristics of each storm under warmer world conditions.

Hurricane Ike from the ISS in 2008. Image courtesy NASA.
<img src="https://vortex.accuweather.com/adc2004/pub/includes/columns/climatewx/2018/590x402_05241918_ike.jpg"/>

The researchers compared high-resolution computer simulations of more than 20 historical, named Atlantic storms with a second set of simulations that are identical except for a warmer, wetter climate that is consistent with the average outcome of scientific projections for the end of this century, according to <a href="https://www2.ucar.edu/atmosnews/news/132790/hurricanes-bit-stronger-bit-slower-and-lot-wetter-in-warmer-climate" target=n>NCAR's AtmosNews.</a>

What the team found was that these same storms in the future would likely produce much more rainfall, be a little stronger and track at a slightly slower forward speed.