One does not have to be a true believer of climate change in order to take notice of what has been happening all over the world in the last few years. Global temperatures have consistently been getting hotter every year, droughts persisting, and super storms have been arising making their way to coast lines, having tremendous effects. After seeing the disheartening result of Hurricane Harvey, some people are now wondering "is this because of climate change?"

In the last two years, more Tropical Typhoon’s and Hurricanes have been achieving extreme levels and reaching categories of 4 and 5. First we witnessed devastation from Hurricane Catrina, then Sandy, and now Harvey. The fact is, Scientists cannot prove the Hurricane that has engulfed the Houston area was caused by Climate change. But, they are for sure certain that the amount of rainfall and devastation that this community is seeing was a result directly related to human induced climate change.

Climate scientists have said for years now that because of the growing amount of GHG’s (Green House Gases) in the atmosphere caused by humans, Global ocean and atmospheric temperatures are rising and expected to continue. To many a change in temperature of .5-1°C seems worthless to be concerned over. The truth however, is even these small increases in temperature on a global level have enormous effects. Such as longer heat waves, rainstorm intensities, sea-level rise, and even greater impacts on basic crops, coral reefs and reduction of fresh water. In the case of Hurricane Harvey, warming oceans are the result of such an intense storm. Here's why.

“Nearly 97% of all water on our planet lies in our oceans”

Nearly 97% of all water on our planet lies in our oceans. Oceanic systems are extremely important in regulating climate on Earth as all moisture and precipitation come from the oceans. More importantly, oceans are a major storing station and transporter of heat. Water has the ability to retain higher heat capacity than air and since the ocean engulfs most of the earth (especially in tropical areas), warm ocean currents thus affect regional patterns of evaporation and rainfall. This is due to thermohaline circulation. This is a process where winds direct ocean currents both on the surface and even thousands of meters below. These ocean currents are driven by differences in the water’s density, which is controlled by temperature (thermo) and salinity (haline). Ocean circulation driven by currents, transfer majority of heat from the tropics regions towards higher latitudes to just about anywhere. More heat in the ocean also causes water to evaporate and rise causing more water vapor in the atmosphere.

Water vapor even to my surprise is the most important greenhouse gas of all. Accounting for roughly half of greenhouse gas effects. Water vapor is important because it maintains air temperatures so that we can live on this planet. The more the climate warms the more water vapor in the air and the more warming continues to happen and precipitation to follow. The Clausius-Clapeyron equation is a theory telling us that just a 3% increase of moisture in the atmosphere is caused with even .5°c of warming. Sea surface temperatures where Harvey intensified were .5-1°c warmer than normal averages within the last few decades. Meaning that as a result, 3-5% more moisture was in the atmosphere. Further producing more rainfall and flooding for this region. Other climate factors also contributed to the intense rain fail. New and persistentsummer weather patterns such as drier regions having high-pressure and rainy regions with low-pressure are keeping winds stationary and locking in weather patterns for days at a time. This is thought to have contributed because of the weak winds by the gulf unable to push the storm back to see. This trend of warming expansions is supported by different model simulations and human caused climate change.

While this theory may not explain the direct cause of Hurricane Harvey, many supporting studies of changing weather patterns surely can explain why Harvey has been extraordinarily more intense. Further causing massive amounts of destruction and continuing to displace many families and communities. My thoughts and prayers go out to those in Texas, and for all those helping.

WHEN THE STORM SETTLES : DID CLIMATE CHANGE CAUSE HURRICANE HARVEY?

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