GOES-16 GeoColor satellite imagery showing Tropical Storm Helene moving through the Southeast U.S. September 26-27, 2024. Produced by the National Weather Service.
--By Quin Campbell, Virginia Master Naturalist Communications and Volunteer Engagement Intern and Virginia Tech Student
Hurricanes are becoming increasingly intense, destructive, and frequent, and this trend is only predicted to continue as temperatures increase. Like many, I was aware that climate change is contributing to stronger storms, but I didn’t fully understand the science behind it. That changed when I took a meteorology class at Virginia Tech, where I learned the specific ways climate change amplifies these storms and fuels their devastating power. Seeing the unprecedented destruction of Hurricane Helene in my home state of North Carolina and across other southeastern states made me realize just how essential it is to understand hurricanes and to address the climate crisis fueling them.
In order to understand climate change’s impact on hurricanes, we must first understand the storms themselves. Hurricanes start as a tropical storm that forms over the ocean. As the storm travels, warm ocean air rises and cools, which forms more clouds and thunderstorms. As this air condenses into water droplets, heat is released, providing more energy to the storm. As the storm moves over warm tropical waters, it collects more heat and evaporated water from the ocean, increasing in strength.
But how is climate change affecting all of this? The simple answer: higher temperatures equals more energy for hurricanes. Higher temperatures lead to increased evaporation. An increase in evaporation means the storm is fueled with water at greater volumes, and faster. Hotter air temperatures also mean that greater amounts of moisture can be held in the atmosphere, allowing the storm to consume greater amounts of water.
Increased temperatures not only affect the air, but the ocean as well. The ocean’s surface layer has risen 1.5°F in temperature since 1901, and a hotter ocean only makes a hurricane stronger and more destructive. Along with an increase in temperature, sea levels have risen about 8 inches since the late 19th century. Higher sea levels leads to an increased flood risk. As hurricanes hit land, storm surges occur, causing water to be pushed inland by strong winds. As sea levels rise, this water is pushed further and further inland with each storm, leading to greater destruction and fatalities.
The encouraging news is that we still have the power to make a difference in the face of climate change. Countless scientists and dedicated organizations are tirelessly working to develop solutions that can minimize and even reverse its impacts. On an individual level, passionate volunteers—like our own Virginia Master Naturalists—are stepping up to protect and restore our precious natural resources.Volunteers in the Chesapeake Bay area are actively supporting the Virginia Oyster Shell Recycling Program, which helps restore oyster populations along the bay. This work not only improves water quality but also strengthens natural defenses against coastal erosion. Volunteers have also helped out with Catch the King, an annual event where community members collect flood data during the highest tides of the year. VMN volunteers also helped plant a riparian buffer demonstration garden along the Chickahominy River, intended to improve water quality, create wildlife habitat, and provide erosion control.
With dedicated efforts from groups like the Virginia Master Naturalists, who are restoring ecosystems and building natural defenses, we have the opportunity to protect our communities and create a more resilient future in the face of climate change.
Hurricanes are becoming increasingly intense, destructive, and frequent, and this trend is only predicted to continue as temperatures increase. Like many, I was aware that climate change is contributing to stronger storms, but I didn’t fully understand the science behind it. That changed when I took a meteorology class at Virginia Tech, where I learned the specific ways climate change amplifies these storms and fuels their devastating power. Seeing the unprecedented destruction of Hurricane Helene in my home state of North Carolina and across other southeastern states made me realize just how essential it is to understand hurricanes and to address the climate crisis fueling them.
In order to understand climate change’s impact on hurricanes, we must first understand the storms themselves. Hurricanes start as a tropical storm that forms over the ocean. As the storm travels, warm ocean air rises and cools, which forms more clouds and thunderstorms. As this air condenses into water droplets, heat is released, providing more energy to the storm. As the storm moves over warm tropical waters, it collects more heat and evaporated water from the ocean, increasing in strength.
But how is climate change affecting all of this? The simple answer: higher temperatures equals more energy for hurricanes. Higher temperatures lead to increased evaporation. An increase in evaporation means the storm is fueled with water at greater volumes, and faster. Hotter air temperatures also mean that greater amounts of moisture can be held in the atmosphere, allowing the storm to consume greater amounts of water.
Increased temperatures not only affect the air, but the ocean as well. The ocean’s surface layer has risen 1.5°F in temperature since 1901, and a hotter ocean only makes a hurricane stronger and more destructive. Along with an increase in temperature, sea levels have risen about 8 inches since the late 19th century. Higher sea levels leads to an increased flood risk. As hurricanes hit land, storm surges occur, causing water to be pushed inland by strong winds. As sea levels rise, this water is pushed further and further inland with each storm, leading to greater destruction and fatalities.
The encouraging news is that we still have the power to make a difference in the face of climate change. Countless scientists and dedicated organizations are tirelessly working to develop solutions that can minimize and even reverse its impacts. On an individual level, passionate volunteers—like our own Virginia Master Naturalists—are stepping up to protect and restore our precious natural resources.Volunteers in the Chesapeake Bay area are actively supporting the Virginia Oyster Shell Recycling Program, which helps restore oyster populations along the bay. This work not only improves water quality but also strengthens natural defenses against coastal erosion. Volunteers have also helped out with Catch the King, an annual event where community members collect flood data during the highest tides of the year. VMN volunteers also helped plant a riparian buffer demonstration garden along the Chickahominy River, intended to improve water quality, create wildlife habitat, and provide erosion control.
With dedicated efforts from groups like the Virginia Master Naturalists, who are restoring ecosystems and building natural defenses, we have the opportunity to protect our communities and create a more resilient future in the face of climate change.
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