Panel Links Global Warming to Hurricane Surge

Study backs UN Panel's conclusion that humans are driving dangerous trend
By Colleen Barry,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 30, 2007 6:23 AM CDT
Panel Links Global Warming to Hurricane Surge
Satellite Photo of Hurricane Gladys   (Earth Explorer)

Rising sea temperatures caused by global warming are causing a surge in the number of hurricanes and tropical storms, a new study confirms. The research, which examined the pattern of storms from the last 100 years, buffers a UN panel's conclusion earlier this year that humans are "more likely than not" a driving factor behind the dangerous trend.

The number of Atlantic hurricanes in an average season has doubled over the last century and is linked to sea temperatures and changing wind patterns, according to the report. Skeptics argue that more hurricanes were reported in the latter half of the century because of technological innovations that could reliably observe hurricanes that didn't make landfall. (More global warming stories.)

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