There's an Unfortunate Causal Link Between Cleaner Air And Atlantic Hurricanes

Climate simulations suggest that tropical cyclones in the Atlantic may increase as air pollution decreases in the western Northern Hemisphere. The forecast isn't a surprise.

When tiny aerosols like dust, soot, and sulfates are airborne, they create smog that can dim sunlight and cool the Earth.

That is different to the impact of greenhouse gasses, which trap energy from the Sun in our atmosphere and warm our planet.

It is possible that aerosols have been masking some of the worst effects of global warming.

Regional air pollution from industries and cars has been connected to storm activity by research from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Over the past 40 years, international weather and pollution data show that aerosol control measures in Europe and the United States have reduced pollution levels.

Researchers have shown that a decrease in pollution would increase the number of tropical storms in the North Atlantic.

The simulations suggest the mid-latitudes of the North Atlantic would have warmed as aerosol particles in Europe and the US fell. This would have triggered a poleward shift in the subtropical jets, which would reduce vertical wind shear and increase tropical cyclone activity.

Aerosols aren't the only factors that impact the severity of hurricanes, but the results suggest they do. A decrease in aerosols by 50 percent in the US and Europe was linked to an increase in hurricanes.

The story is different in South and East Asia. Aerosol pollution increased by 50 percent from 1980 to 2010.

Simulations show that pollution reduced temperatures and weakened monsoon circulation in the western North Pacific. Tropical cyclone activity decreased by 14 percent from 2000 to 2020.

Increasing air pollution isn't a viable strategy for a clean and healthy future despite the small reprieve from storms.

Reducing greenhouse gasses should be our first line of attack.

Air pollution would not be able to keep up. There are a lot of other deadly issues.

Air pollution is a major killer, so reducing emissions is critical no matter what happens with the number of storms.

Scientists have proposed that we try to dim the Sun with billions of sulfur particles. If we tinker with the atmosphere, we will create a bigger issue than we can control.

We have messed with the climate one too many times. The time to act is now.

Science Advances published the study.