Unexplainable Is climate change really making hurricanes worse?
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Jun 2, 2025 
Umair Irfan, a Vox climate science correspondent, sheds light on the complex interplay between climate change and hurricanes. He discusses how warmer ocean temperatures might intensify storms while acknowledging the challenges in firmly linking human influence to hurricane frequency and severity. Irfan highlights the critical role of NOAA’s funding cuts on hurricane forecasting and examines the uncertainties surrounding climate change's impact on storm behavior. This conversation reveals the intricate factors at play in understanding our changing climate and its effects.
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How Hurricanes Gain Strength
- Hurricanes act like giant heat engines driven by the temperature difference between warm ocean surfaces and cool atmosphere.
- Warmer ocean water provides more energy, enabling storms to become stronger and rapidly intensify.
Flooding and Climate Link
- Climate change raises sea levels and warms air, increasing water volume and moisture content.
- This causes hurricanes to bring more flooding through stronger storm surge and heavier rainfall.
Data Limits Hinder Conclusions
- Hurricane data is limited due to rarity and short satellite record since 1960s-70s.
- This makes it difficult to definitively attribute changes in hurricane activity to climate change.