Climate Change Worsens Impacts of Hurricane Helene

A recent study by World Weather Attribution has determined that Hurricane Helene was significantly intensified by climate change, which increased the storm’s wind speeds and rainfall. The report noted that the warming climate made conditions favorable for Helene far more likely, with hundreds of fatalities resulting from severe inland flooding and the enhanced intensity of the storm. The findings underscore the urgency of addressing climate change to mitigate future disasters.

Recent research has revealed that climate change significantly intensified Hurricane Helene, which struck the southeastern United States late last month, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 230 lives and extensive destruction. The study, released by World Weather Attribution, indicates that rising temperatures have increased the hurricane’s wind speed and rainfall, with the elevated sea temperatures that fueled the storm becoming up to 500 times more likely due to human-induced climate change. Researchers noted that climate change led to an approximate 11 percent increase in Helene’s wind speeds, translating to an additional 13 miles per hour (21 kilometers per hour), and a 10 percent increase in the amount of rainfall affecting the U.S. “All aspects of this event were amplified by climate change to different degrees,” stated Ben Clarke, co-author of the study from Imperial College London, during a news conference. He cautioned that such events may become more frequent as global temperatures rise. Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida on September 26, bringing with it a record storm surge of 15 feet (4.57 meters) and wind speeds reaching 140 mph (225 km/h). The catastrophic storm impacted Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and Virginia, devastating numerous towns in the Appalachian region and leaving millions without power, cellular service, and essential supplies. Hundreds died as a result of massive inland flooding attributed to the hurricane’s heavy rainfall. Meteorologists estimate that Helene released over 40 trillion gallons of rain across the region. The WWA report concluded that such extreme rainfall would have been significantly diminished had it not been for human-caused climate change. The findings suggest that in a climate that has already warmed by 1.3 degrees Celsius (2.34 degrees Fahrenheit) due to fossil fuel combustion, occurrences of severe rainfall similar to that of Hurricane Helene are now estimated to take place approximately once every seven years along coastal areas and once every 70 years in inland regions. Many of the fatalities from the hurricane were due to flooding rather than high winds, with the storm’s rainfall being about 10 percent heavier as a result of climate change. Looking ahead, researchers warned that should global fossil fuel consumption continue to elevate temperatures to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels, the likelihood of experiencing devastating rainfall events will increase by an additional 15 to 25 percent.

The connection between climate change and severe weather events, such as hurricanes, is becoming increasingly evident in scientific discussions. Rising global temperatures due to greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels are linked to heightened weather extremes, including more intense storms, significant rainfall, and increased flooding risks. Hurricanes, which form in warm ocean waters, are particularly sensitive to these changes, leading to a growing body of research that attempts to quantify the impact of anthropogenic climate effects on storm behavior and associated damages.

In summary, Hurricane Helene serves as a stark reminder of the growing impact of climate change on extreme weather phenomena. The research highlights the relationship between human-induced climate fluctuations and more intense storms, leading to greater wind speeds and rainfall. As climate change progresses, similar weather events are expected to increase in frequency and severity, with devastating consequences for affected communities.

Original Source: www.radiohc.cu