Katrina May Be A Harbinger Of Storms To Come, Science Author Says

Hurricane Katrina caused death and destruction unprecedented in U.S. history, but with rising sea temperatures possibly fueling more Category 4 and 5 hurricanes, the Gulf Coast and Eastern seaboard of the United States are at risk for more such storms in the future, says the author of a new study in Science.

Peter Webster, a top U.S. atmospheric scientist, led a team of researchers who report in the journal's 16 September issue that the number of high-intensity cyclones, typhoons and hurricanes has increased in all of the world's ocean basins since 1975. In the North Atlantic, including the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, the number of Category 4 and 5 hurricanes has increased 56 percent, from 16 between 1975 and 1989 to 25 between 1990 and 2004.

In an interview, Webster cautioned that while the evidence indicates a link between rising sea surface temperatures and hurricane intensity, the evidence is not yet conclusive. And, he added, a single hurricane like Katrina is not by itself sufficient to validate the team's hypothesis. "The significance of Katrina," he said, "is that it has served as a wake-up call for the need to develop improved risk assessments and management plans to address the impacts of intense hurricanes."

For more information, read the full story.

See also an interview with Webster.

AAAS Responds to Hurricane Katrina: AAAS and Science are offering a range of services and materials to aid in the recovery effort.