Defining the Terms
Tropical typhoons are large, swirling storms that form over warm ocean waters. Depending on their location, they have different names.
Typhoons in the northwest Pacific, Hurricanes in the Atlantic and northeast Pacific, and Cyclones in the Indian Ocean and southwest Pacific. These powerful storms are from strong winds, heavy rainfall, and the potential for devastating storm surges.
The Consequences
The consequences have been severe as these extreme weather events have become more intense. Stronger winds can cause widespread destruction, toppling trees, power lines, and buildings. The heavier rainfall leads to catastrophic flooding, which can inundate entire communities and disrupt critical infrastructure. Storm surges and abnormal rises in sea level can push water far inland, causing extensive coastal damage.
The impacts of these stronger storms go beyond the immediate physical destruction. They have long-lasting economic and social consequences, disrupting livelihoods, displacing populations, and setting back development efforts in affected regions. The recovery process can be slow and arduous, with communities struggling to rebuild and restore essential services.
Climate Change
Climate change creates tropical storms. Many weather researchers say they are getting stronger. Tropical cyclones gain most of their energy from the evaporative heat of the water vapour they pick up over the ocean.
Ever wondered what the difference is between a hurricane, a typhoon and a cyclone? And I can answer this pretty quickly for you: there’s no difference! Hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones are all different names for the same natural hazard: tropical cyclones. In the Atlantic, they call them hurricanes, in the western Pacific, typhoons, and in Australia and the Indian Ocean, cyclones.
Tropical cyclones are essentially storms – large, fascinating, dangerous storms. They become tropical storms, and if they become strong enough, they become tropical cyclones (or hurricanes, or typhoons, or cyclones – depending on where you are!).
Planet Warms
As the planet warms, hurricanes are growing more powerful and pushing the limits of the current Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. A recent study by Dr.Michael Wehner, a senior scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and James Kossin, a climate scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, introduces a hypothetical sixth category to the scale with the aim of better communicating the increasing dangers of intensified storms.
Hurricanes have been stronger and more destructive over the decades. They are fueled by heat energy from warm ocean water. In recent years, anthropogenic climate change has trapped large amounts of heat on Earth—90% of which is harboured in oceans. This increasing abundance of heat energy enables the formation of longer-lasting, more powerful storms. Water can hold warm air, which is torrential rain.
Rising Sea Levels
Rising sea levels caused by climate change have exacerbated storm surges, in which waters rise above normal levels and are pushed inward by a storm’s wind. Scientists have found that hurricanes are experiencing slower momentum after formation. They stall over land for longer periods by wind and rain. On top of this, scientists have found an increased probability of communities experiencing large storms back-to-back.
The new study by Wehner and Kossin outlined a hypothetical expansion of the Saffir-Simpson Scale to include a Category 6 ranking. On the new scale, Category 5 would be capped at 192 mph and storms with maximum sustained wind speeds exceeding this speed would fall under Category 6.
The study found that several recent storms have already achieved this status, including Hurricane Patricia, which hit Texas, Mexico, and Central America in 2015, and is the strongest hurricane in the recorded history of the Western Hemisphere with wind speeds of 215 mph.
Conclusion
In the face of this growing challenge, nations are taking steps to prepare and build resilience. Disaster risk reduction strategies, early warning systems, evacuation plans, and the construction of storm-resistant infrastructure, are crucial. Investing in nature-based solutions, like mangrove restoration and coastal wetland protection, can help mitigate the impacts of storms.
Governments are working to improve climate adaptation measures. Strengthening building codes, enhancing flood management systems, and developing comprehensive disaster response plans are the core. Engaging local communities in the planning and implementation of these strategies is essential to ensure their effectiveness and relevance.
As the threat of stronger typhoons, hurricanes, and cyclones continues to grow, it is clear that a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach is needed to protect lives, livelihoods, and communities. By understanding the science, addressing the underlying causes, and implementing robust preparedness measures, nations can work to build a more resilient future in the face of these intensifying natural disasters.
