I note recent reports that there were those saying that Hurricane Harvey was so bad because of global warming. However, a number of experts say that is “hogwash!” To wit: Judith Curry, a climatologist and retired Georgia Tech professor, was quoted in the Washington Times, that Harvey tied for for 14th of the strongest storms, since 1851! She further claims that those who blame the intensity on global warming “don’t have a leg to stand on.”
Roger Pielke, a specialist on extreme weather, and a professor at the University of Colorado Center for Science & Technology Policy Research states that there were 14 Category 4 or greater hurricanes to hit the U.S. between 1926 and 1962, but only four between 1970 and 2017. He further stated that the Obama administration was lucky, in that an average of one hurricane every two years came during his eight years in office. That’s the fewest in any comparable period, looking back as far as 1901.
Lastly, Roy W. Spencer, principal research scientist at the University of Alabama, also disagreed with some statements about sea surface temperature causing increasing storm intensity. He is quoted as saying, after studying Gulf storms from 1870 on, that major hurricanes don’t really care about surface water temperatures, whether above or below average. The record rainfall in Houston was primarily because the storm moved unusually slowly, one of those weird things that happen, without any explanation. To quote Mr. Spencer, “This is just the luck of the draw.”
Pat Jacob
Snohomish
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