Grapevine

Supercharged storms: how climate change amplifies cyclones

From Hurricane Helene to Typhoon Yagi, powerful storms are battering the globe, and scientists warn that a warming planet is amplifying their destructive force to unprecedented levels.

Here's what the latest research reveals about how climate change is supercharging tropical cyclones—the generic term for both weather phenomenon.

Packing more punch

First, the basics: warmer ocean surfaces release more water vapor, providing additional energy for storms, which intensifies their winds. A warming atmosphere also allows them to hold more water, boosting heavy rainfall.

"On average, the destructive potential of hurricanes has increased about 40 percent due to the 1 degrees Celsius (roughly 2 degrees Fahrenheit) warming that has already taken place," Michael Mann, a climatologist at University of Pennsylvania, told AFP.