News From the Field
Threshold Sea Surface Temperature for Hurricanes and Tropical Thunderstorms Is Rising

November 7, 2010

Scientists have long known that atmospheric convection in the form of hurricanes and tropical ocean thunderstorms occurs when sea surface temperature (SST) rises above a threshold. So how do rising ocean temperatures with global warming affect this threshold? If the threshold does not rise, it could mean more frequent hurricanes. A new study shows this threshold SST for convection is rising under global warming at the same rate as that of the tropical oceans. photo credit UCAR Full Story

Source
University of Hawaii at Manoa

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