You may be able to get insurance on the beach house again. A new study says that global warming is not causing Atlantic hurricanes to occur with greater frequency.
The research from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientist Tom Knutson, uses new computer models to predict that no only will the number of hurricanes not increase, but they may actual decrease in number by the end of the century.
However, before you go and recycle the emergency kit, the model also suggests that while there may be fewer hurricanes, the ones we get will be wetter and more powerful.
The topic of hurricanes and global warming has been a controversial one since Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005, with experts differing on how the latter might be affected by the former. This particular study is significant because it comes from Knutson, who has often spoken out about the dangers of climate change, and even criticized the Bush administration publicly for suppressing information on the subject.
Not surprisingly, some climatologists have already come out against the research, while others say it supports earlier findings, so look for more studies to come.
In any case, there are two things to keep in mind when your Hummer-driving neighbour sees this story on Fox News and chortles "See, global warming is a good thing": a) don't punch him in the face, because that's illegal and, b) hurricanes have never been considered a major risk of climate change; consider drought and disappearing farmland if you want to understand where the real crisis lies.
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