Even Hurricanes Think Green: How the Color of Ocean Water Affects Storm Development
Photo Credit: Island Life
As the hurricane season rapidly approaches we can’t help but notice the severity of other natural disasters that have occurred this summer. As wildfires rage in Russia and over 20% of Pakistan is now underwater from unprecedented flooding we wonder: are these incidents statistical anomalies, or clear signs that global climate change is finally showing us its true colors?
While there is not much we can do to prevent hurricanes from happening (as they are actually part of a healthy marine ecosystem) there is more we can do to forecast and prepare for them. According to a recent study, the color of ocean water has a significant influence on storm development. The greener the water the more hurricanes. Green water is a sign of a healthy ocean, as it is teeming with chlorophyll, the green pigment in phytoplankton. These microorganisms are the foundation of the oceanic food chain and also responsible for the development of major storms and hurricanes.
In the absence of chlorophyll, sunlight is able to penetrate deeper into the ocean, leaving the surface water cooler. The drop in the surface temperature affects hurricane formation in three main ways: cold water provides less energy; air circulation patterns change, leading to more dry air aloft which makes it hard for hurricanes to grow. The changes in air circulation trigger strong winds aloft, which tend to prevent thunderstorms from developing the necessary superstructure that allows them to grow into hurricanes.
With autumn just around the corner, it will be important to monitor the color and temperature of our oceans. We cannot keep the storms from hitting our shores, but we can do everything possible to be ready for them.
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