I, myself, don’t feel comfortable concluding that Global Warming, in effect, was the reason for Hurricane Sandy’s being, although I do believe that Hurricane intensity and frequency will increase as the planet warms. Although there might have been contributing factors that climate change induced, or in fact caused, it seems a common theme in articles that a conclusion cannot be made. As of now, there isn’t enough evidence to conclude that Hurricane Sandy was the direct result of Global Warming. There is modern data that can explain why such Hurricanes would increase in both intensity and frequency, however the question is whether this data can be trusted.

Considered the satellite era ( last 30 to 40 years), reliable technology for recording hurricanes was not available. Different techniques for analyzing hurricanes also varied from region to region, which could alter the data (Easterling et al., 159 year, 2012). Even trends of the past 40 years, IPCC admits, are not particularly significant, at least on a global scale (Easterling et al., 159 year 2012). This is not to say however that there is not evidence supporting climate change and hurricane activity. Possibly due to an increase in ocean temperature, in the last 25 years, power dissipation has increased in the North Atlantic, although still, only a miniscule trend when considering the entire history of hurricane activity. The effects of heating oceans are very complicated. (Easterling et al., 159 year 2012). Relationships between both the atmosphere and heating of the ocean need to be taken into consideration. In order for a Hurricane to take place, the ocean temperature needs to be, as the IPCC puts it “roughly 26 degrees Celsius” for what is called tropical cyclogenesis. Along with the ocean heating up however, the atmosphere is undergoing change which can affect this ideal temperature; the ideal temperature possibly rises along with the ocean temperature. (Easterling et al., 160 year 2012).  Again, there are many things to consider. 15% of heat is believed to be the result of climate change affecting Hurricane Sandy, not taking into consideration other natural heat sources (Superstorm Sandy and Climate Change, 1).  Therefore climate change might of given the storm a push, however it can’t be concluded that climate change caused the storm. Another effect to consider on increasing oceanic temperatures is wind shear. Vertical wind shear will decrease Hurricane Activity, and increase with oceanic heating (Mallard, Lackmann, Aiyyer, Hill 4876, year 2013). There’s a possibility then that ocean heating is counterproductive to Hurricane activity.

Although not a direct result of Hurricane activity, with the level of sea’s rising it makes events like Hurricane Sandy more likely to occur. Specifically the flooding (Not the Hurricane itself (Chang A6). If ocean levels rise, then the odds of a Hurricane Sandy like events also increase in likelihood. Therefore, climate change can affect storms, however in this case only indirectly. will

It’s undeniable that there is evidence out there suggesting the connection between extreme weather and climate change. Whether Global Warming caused Hurricane Sandy is another question, that at this point in time can’t be answered.

Works Cited

Chang, Kenneth. “Research Cites Role of Warming in Extremes.” New York Times (blog). N.p., 5 Sept. 2013. Web. 21 Sept. 2013.

Grunwald, Michael. “Sandy Ends the Silence.” Time 19 Nov. 2012: 32. Academic Search Premier. Web. 15 Sept. 2013. <http://ehis.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.lib.uconn.edu/ehost/detail?sid=940ceab5-cb6a-4692-8c22-67df96062725%40sessionmgr112&vid=1&hid=107&bdata=JnNpdGU

9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=83372039>.

Kevin Hill, et al. “Atlantic Hurricanes And Climate Change. Part I: Experimental Design And Isolation Of Thermodynamic Effects.” Journal Of Climate 26.13 (2013): 4876-4893. Academic Search Complete. Web. 21 Sept. 2013.

Seneviratne, S.I., N. Nicholls, D. Easterling, C.M. Goodess, S. Kanae, J. Kossin, Y. Luo, J. Marengo, K. McInnes, M. Rahimi,M. Reichstein, A. Sorteberg, C. Vera, and X. Zhang, 2012: Changes in climate extremes and their impacts on the natural physical environment. In: Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation [Field, C.B., V. Barros, T.F. Stocker, D. Qin, D.J. Dokken, K.L. Ebi, M.D. Mastrandrea, K.J. Mach, G.-K. Plattner, S.K. Allen,M. Tignor, and P.M. Midgley (eds.)]. A Special Report of Working Groups I and II of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, and New York, NY, USA, pp. 109-230.

“Superstorm Sandy and Climate Change.” New York State Conservationist 1 Feb. 2013: 25. Print.