Researchers found significant decreasing trends in the global number of hurricanes.
In Geophysical Research Letters they published the results of a study on trends in tropical cyclone activity worldwide from 1990 to 2021. Today in Cubadebate we highlight some of the most striking.
Fewer hurricanes
The authors of the article “Trends in Global Tropical Cyclone Activity: 1990-2021” found significant downward trends in the global number of hurricanes. Y Decreasing trends are essentially estimated by the decrease in the number of hurricanes in the western North Pacific, an ocean region that is typically the most active on the planet.
The decrease there is likely due to the trend towards a more La Niña-like environment, a phenomenon that reduces cyclonic activity in the Pacific and favors that of the North Atlantic.
Intensified global activity
Category 4-5 hurricane activity has increased worldwide since 1990, but not significantly.
“The overall increasing trend in Category 4-5 hurricanes, accompanied by a decreasing trend in all hurricanes, indicates a shift towards more intense global hurricane activity and a higher percentage of hurricanes [aquellos de] Category 4-5,” commented the experts.
More short-lived storms
During the aforementioned thirty-two year period, short-duration named storms (lasting two days or less) increased worldwide, primarily due to the increase in atmospheric systems in the North Atlantic and eastern North Pacific.
The increase in short-lived storms is largely attributed to improvements in observation technology.
Note: Although different terms such as typhoons and hurricanes are used depending on the sea basin, researchers use hurricanes to refer to all tropical cyclones that have maximum average wind speeds of 70 mph or greater, regardless of where they originated.
Grades:
1) Philip J. Klotzbach, Kimberly M. Wood, Carl J. Schreck III, Steven G. Bowen, Christina M. Patricola and Michael M. Bell, son of the authors of the article “Trends in Global Tropical Cyclone Activity: 1990-2021” .
2) The maximum average winds of Category 4 hurricanes can be 209-251 kilometers per hour. Category 5 hurricanes have sustained winds of 155 mph or greater.