Rising Sea Temperatures “Adds Fuel to the Fire”

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – We’ve all been feeling the heat this summer, but some are saying the more concerning temperature numbers are those coming from the seas. In this edition of sustainability first, discussed is the connection between water temperatures and stronger hurricanes.

This summer has been full of reports of record high temperatures across the world, including ocean temperatures entering the triple digits in the region, but what does it mean for this year’s hurricane season?

Should a storm form, there are multiple factors that contribute to hurricane strength, but warmer water temperatures are often listed as the first factor that contributes to the intensity of a storm. The national oceanic and atmospheric administration calls heat energy the “fuel for the storm” and compares rising ocean temperatures to adding “fuel to a fire”.

Some studies also suggest climate change could be making hurricanes more destructive as the warming atmosphere may cause slower winds, causing storms to not blow through as quickly as they had in the past.

So what can we do, if anything, about this? An answer could be in the planting and conservation of mangrove forests. They store up to 5 times the amount of carbon as inland forests, and help to protect shorelines, should a storm hit.

Yesterday was World Mangrove Day and this week many initiatives are ongoing around the country working to plant and conserve the hidden heroes of the environment.