A concise, elegant metereological discussion of the connection between global warming and hurricanes can be found here at the wonderful Gristmill blog, courtesy of my friend at JPL, oceanographer Bill Patzert. The discussion closely parallels my look at the issue below in the post called "Sorry, Mr. Sullivan. Sorry, Mr. Kennedy," I'm happy to say, but concludes with a mention of a fact I forgot to include in my lengthy discussion--the usefulness of natural barriers to hurricanes.
Draining bayous (which causes the silt left behind to compact), eliminating sand dunes, or deforesting mountains (which leaves towns at the base vulnerable to mud slides) leave coastal populations devoid of natural protections. All this remains true regardless of how much the planet warms. We remain unprepared for these storms and their aftermath at our peril.
