Source Water Temperatures Rising

[azskyman]

Sorry if this story might be posted elsewhere on here as I don't visit it much until after June 1st. Nevertheless, a friend of mine in NWS shared this with me this morning, and I find it interesting.


The region of the tropical Atlantic where many
hurricanes originate has warmed by several tenths of a
degree Celsius over the 20th century, and new climate
model simulations suggest that human activity, such as
increasing greenhouse gas emissions into the
atmosphere, may contribute significantly to this
warming. This new finding is one of several
conclusions reported in a study by scientists at the
NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) in
Princeton, N.J., published today in the Journal of
Climate.

The region, which extends from 10 degrees N to 20
degrees N in the area of the Cape Verde Islands, has
been identified as the origin for a large portion of
major hurricanes in the tropical North Atlantic, and
is known as the "Main Development Region." Ocean
surface temperatures in this region warmed over the
20th century, roughly tracking the global average, but
this region has greater multi-decade variability than
the global average does when looking at long-term
trends.

Atlantic hurricane variability and its causes is the
subject of intensive scientific investigations by
scientists. Earlier studies suggest that warmer
tropical sea surface temperatures can lead to
hurricanes of greater intensity. Other studies at NOAA
have concluded that warmer sea surfaces is one of
several important factors affecting Atlantic hurricane
activity. Ongoing research continues to address
uncertainties in the observed trend.

Other significant conclusions of the new GFDL study
include findings that extend beyond the North
Atlantic. An example is the Indian Ocean and western
tropical Pacific, where a regional warming trend has
emerged particularly clearly during the past half
century. These conclusions support similar findings
from earlier studies.

The Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory advances
NOAA's expert assessments of changes in national and
global climate through research, improved models and
products. The goal of GFDL's research is to understand
and predict the Earth's climate and weather, including
the impact of human activities.

NOAA, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is
dedicated to enhancing economic security and national
safety through the prediction and research of weather
and climate-related events and providing environmental
stewardship of the nation's coastal and marine
resources.

Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System
of Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal
partners, 61 countries and the European Commission to
develop a global network that is as integrated as the
planet it observes, predicts and protects.

[MiamiensisWx]

This has already been posted here...

http://www.storm2k.org/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=83950

[tailgater]

Yes this already has thread on this page.