Abstract

In September 2005, the respected Journal Science released the results of a comprehensive study about the effects of global warming on our weather, particularly tropical cyclones (hurricanes). The study suggests that meteorologists are beginning to identify links between the increasing power of tropical storms and greenhouse gas fueled ocean warming.

One section of the report highlights an atypical 80% increase worldwide in the profusion of severe Hurricanes over the past 35 years. The author of the first study, Kerry Emanuel of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology states that "There's a strong suggestion of a link" between the growing greenhouse and intensifying tropical cyclones. Another major related problem is that the rising temperatures are beginning to melt glaciers and polar ice sheets.

According to Gerald Meehl from the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), by the year 2100, our climate will warm by one degree and the seas will rise 4 inches. Some studies state that the situation is much worse and that the global average temperature will rise 6.3 degrees and the sea level rising by more than a foot. Meehl says "Even if we stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations, the climate will continue to warm, and, there will be proportionately even more sea level rise."

These conditions will produce numerous weather related disasters in the Gulf state region for many decades to come. In order to avoid the enormous amounts of property damage and human suffering produced by Hurricane Katrina, and similar future events, a new generation of homes and other structures must be built in these areas that can withstand even the most severe storms, floods and tornadoes.