Keeping an Eye on the Storms: An Analysis of Trends in Hurricanes Over Time

Some politicians and pundits have argued that increased greenhouse gas emissions have led to increased frequency and intensity of hurricanes. This Special Report examines historical hurricane data to determine if these claims hold merit. The findings: Despite increases in carbon-dioxide levels over...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Policy File 2024
Main Authors: Joe D’Aleo, Dayaratna, Kevin D
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
Climate change
Climate science
Environment
Hurricanes
Online Access:Request full text
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Summary:Some politicians and pundits have argued that increased greenhouse gas emissions have led to increased frequency and intensity of hurricanes. This Special Report examines historical hurricane data to determine if these claims hold merit. The findings: Despite increases in carbon-dioxide levels over the past century, there has been no significant long-term increase in the incidence and severity of hurricanes using a variety of metrics. There is also no meaningful increase in damages after accounting for economic growth. The authors discuss factors that more adequately describe variability in hurricane activity; namely, modulation by El Niño Southern Oscillation cycles as well as longer-term, fluctuations regarding Atlantic and Pacific Ocean surface temperatures.