DeepSummary
The podcast discusses the predictions for an unusually active Atlantic hurricane season in 2023. Rebecca Hersher, an NPR climate correspondent, explains that forecasters are predicting between 17 and 25 storms, including at least 8 hurricanes and 4 major hurricanes (category 3 or higher). This is due to abnormally high ocean temperatures in the Atlantic, which have been breaking records for over a year, providing fuel for hurricanes.
Hersher interviews NASA climate scientist Gavin Schmidt, who discusses potential reasons for the extremely warm Atlantic waters, including theories involving Saharan dust, marine pollution, the solar cycle, errors in data or models, and even the underwater volcanic eruption near Tonga in 2022 injecting water vapor into the stratosphere. However, the exact cause remains a scientific mystery.
Regardless of the reasons, the podcast emphasizes the importance of preparing for hurricanes, especially for those living in hurricane-prone areas across a wide swath of the United States. It provides specific tips on making evacuation and shelter-in-place plans, considering individual needs and vulnerabilities, and ensuring the safety of family members and neighbors.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Forecasters are predicting a record-breaking number of storms in the Atlantic hurricane season this year, potentially over 20 storms including several major hurricanes.
- The main reason for the active forecast is abnormally high ocean temperatures in the Atlantic, which have been breaking records for over a year.
- The extreme ocean warmth is a scientific mystery, with various theories being explored involving factors like Saharan dust, marine pollution, solar activity, data errors, and the Tonga volcanic eruption.
- Human-caused climate change is the primary driver of ocean warming overall, but the recent extreme warmth has surpassed expectations.
- Hurricane preparedness is crucial, especially for those living in hurricane-prone regions across much of the United States.
- Specific tips for hurricane preparedness include making evacuation and shelter-in-place plans, considering individual needs and vulnerabilities, and ensuring the safety of family and neighbors.
- Acting now to prepare for hurricanes, before the peak of the season, is emphasized as critical.
- Flooding from heavy rainfall is often the deadliest aspect of hurricanes, impacting areas far inland.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “They've been in record breaking territory for almost the entire last twelve months.“ by Gavin Schmidt
- “The warming that we've been seeing in the North Atlantic over the last year has made people kind of lift their eyebrows a little bit and go, huh, what's going on there?“ by Gavin Schmidt
- “Now is the time.“ by Rebecca Hersher
- “We've never seen that before, and that went up really high. And water vapor in the stratosphere is actually an additional greenhouse gas.“ by Gavin Schmidt
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Episode Information
Short Wave
NPR
6/21/24
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