Along with health issues, there are of course a number of environmental issues that are directly related to global warming. We all know of the number of weather calamities that have occurred over recent months and years as the environment has changed drastically. The evidence linking global warming and these weather calamities is increasing, too, and the dangers of drastic weather conditions are a part of our daily news.
With hurricanes in particular, the warming of our ocean waters through the warming of our overall climate has impacted the frequency of hurricanes in recent years. Scientists have long predicted that warmer weather would increase the occurrence of weather incidents like hurricanes or tsunamis. There were still questions regarding where and when the stronger hurricanes would occur and how much stronger the hurricanes would be.
Recent storm events have produced some answers to those questions, as we have come to learn that the storm levels have already risen significantly. Recent research covered in the 2007 report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change indicates that, in the North Atlantic, fiercer hurricanes are “correlated with increases of tropical sea surface temperatures.”
A 2005 MIT study found that the harsh potential of tropical storms has doubled over the past 30 years. It correlates this increasing fierceness with warmer sea surface temperatures. Research at the Georgia Institute of Technology found that the number of Category 4 and 5 hurricanes has doubled since the 1970′s.
With all of these changes regarding hurricanes upon us and fiercer storms likely on the way, it is important to realize the dangers of global warming at a practical level. People are losing their homes and their lives as the result of these horrific storms.
It may seem that our world is on a path to destruction that none of us can avoid. In truth, however, even the smallest lifestyle changes can help make major impacts. Driving a smaller car that produces fewer pollutants is a good start, naturally. Drop by your local Scion dealer today and check out what they have to offer.
