again? what did you do with the previous several posts which included references?
what is the point in reposting if you never read the references - nor go as suggested and read the references of references?
for others who might be new to the site -------------- don't bother yourself, you won't be able to understand the reading
The relationship between lower intensity hurricanes and the damage they cause is complex and influenced by several factors, primarily climate change.
## Increased Damage from Lower Intensity Hurricanes
1. **Changing Climate Dynamics**: While the overall frequency of hurricanes may not have increased significantly, the intensity and destructiveness of storms that do occur have escalated due to climate change. Warmer ocean temperatures allow hurricanes to gain more energy, leading to higher wind speeds and increased rainfall. This results in more severe flooding and storm surges, which can cause extensive damage even from storms that are not classified as major hurricanes (Category 3 or above) [1][2][5].
2. **Storm Surge and Sea Level Rise**: Rising sea levels exacerbate the impact of hurricanes by increasing the height of storm surges. For instance, studies indicate that the flood heights from Hurricane Katrina were significantly higher than they would have been under early 20th-century climate conditions due to sea level rise [3][4]. This means that even lower intensity hurricanes can lead to catastrophic flooding in coastal areas [2][3].
3. **Slower Moving Storms**: Recent trends show that hurricanes are moving more slowly as they approach landfall. This slowdown allows storms to linger over areas longer, resulting in prolonged rainfall and flooding. For example, Hurricane Harvey stalled over Houston in 2017, leading to unprecedented rainfall and flooding [2][3][5]. Such slow-moving storms can inflict substantial damage even if their wind speeds do not classify them as major hurricanes.
4. **Increased Rainfall Rates**: The capacity of hurricanes to hold moisture has increased with rising temperatures, leading to heavier rainfall during storms. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports a likely increase in average and peak rainfall rates associated with tropical cyclones [2][3]. This trend means that even less intense storms can produce significant rainfall, contributing to flooding and infrastructure damage.
5. **Urban Development**: The increasing development along coastlines has placed more people and property at risk from hurricanes. As populations grow in vulnerable areas, the potential for damage from both high-intensity and lower-intensity storms increases [5][6].
In summary, while lower intensity hurricanes may not exhibit the same wind speeds as their stronger counterparts, their potential for causing substantial damage has increased due to climate-related factors such as rising sea levels, increased rainfall rates, and urban development patterns. This trend highlights the need for enhanced preparedness and resilience strategies in vulnerable coastal communities.
Citations: [1] https://www.edf.org/climate/how-climate-change-makes-hurricanes-more-destructive [2] [3] https://www.c2es.org/content/hurricanes-and-climate-change/ [4] https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/Landsea/gw_hurricanes/ [5] https://www.woodwellclimate.org/how-climate-change-is-affecting-hurricanes/ [6] https://bkvenergy.com/blog/are-hurricanes-getting-stronger/ [7] https://science.nasa.gov/earth/climate-change/a-force-of-nature-hurricanes-in-a-changing-climate/
