Research finds evidence tropical cyclones have climate-control role

Purdue University researchers have found evidence that tropical cyclones and hurricanes play an important role in the ocean circulation patterns that transport heat and maintain the climate of North America and Europe.

“It was thought that hurricanes occurred over too short of a time period and over too small of an area to affect the global system,” said Matthew Huber, the Purdue University professor of earth and atmospheric sciences who led the research group. “This research provides evidence that hurricanes play an important role and may be one of the missing pieces in the climate modeling puzzle.”

The research also showed that hurricanes cool the tropics, forming in response to higher temperatures and acting as a thermostat for the area, Huber said.

“I like to say the good news is that hurricanes function like a thermostat for the tropics, and the bad news is that hurricanes function like a thermostat for the tropics. The logical conclusion of this finding, taking into account past research into the impact of rising temperatures on cyclone and hurricane intensity, is that as the world and the tropics warm, there will be an increase in the integrated intensity of hurricanes.”

Purdue