Study: Hurricanes are becoming stronger

MADISON, Wis., Sept. 8 (UPI) -- A study by U.S. scientists confirms the theory that global warming might be contributing to stronger hurricanes in the Atlantic during the past 30 years.

Researchers led by University of Wisconsin Professor James Elsner and Florida State University postdoctoral research Thomas Jagger found the strongest tropical cyclones are, in fact, becoming stronger -- and ocean temperatures play a role in driving that trend.

The scientists said they speculated there might not be a noticeable trend in the intensity of typical hurricanes due to environmental factors but if the heat-engine theory is correct, there should be a upward trend in the intensity of hurricanes at or near their maximum possible intensity.

The study determined the strongest tropical cyclones are becoming stronger, particularly over the North Atlantic and Indian oceans. Wind speeds for the strongest tropical storms increased from an average of 140 mph in 1981 to 156 mph in 2006, while the ocean temperature, averaged globally over tropical cyclone areas, increased from 28.2 degrees Celsius to 28.5 degrees Celsius during that period.

The study is reported in the Sept. 4 edition of the journal Nature.