Many people can’t help but wonder if Superstorm Sandy can be
blamed on global warming. It seems like the logical explanation when such a
severe and unusual storm comes rolling through. But scientists aren’t so quick
to place blame, according to an article from the Associated Press.
For years now, scientists have been warning of the imminent
dangers global warming presents us with, including the likelihood of larger,
more severe storms. Less than a year ago, Michael Oppenheimer of Princeton
University predicted that soon severe flooding would hit New York every three
to twenty years instead of once a century. And Monday night, Oppenheimer, along
with millions of east coasters saw the dreadful reality of that claim.
But there are also other factors to consider. It’s difficult
to link single occurrences like Superstorm Sandy to global warming. Specific
parts of the storm seem to stem from climate change, but not all. Sea level and
water temperature have risen in the last century, and the storm went along with
an unusually warm current from the Caribbean to Ireland.
Hurricane season has also seen significant change over the
last three years. An average of 11 storms per year has been 19, 18, and 19
respectively the last three years running. But as global climate warms, we
should see fewer, more severe storms.
As of right now, scientists are saying that evidence is thus
far inconclusive. Was it just a bad set of circumstances, or was it global
warming? Some say it’s mostly a natural, freak occurrence—like the drought. But
the answer is not yet clear.
Water levels are about a foot higher in New York than they
were 100 years ago, which means that New York is at an even greater risk for
flooding than it was before. Whatever the reason for the storm, we’re keeping
our eyes open.
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