Previous simulations had found that as global atmospheric temperatures rise, sea surface temperatures rise as well.
And because warm ocean waters fuel hurricanes, that temperature rise was predicted to increase hurricanes (interactive: how hurricanes form).
The models, however, also project that the difference in wind speed and direction—an effect known as wind shear—will also increase due to rising temperatures.
An increase in wind shear could counteract the effect of rising sea surface temperatures and actually inhibit hurricane formation.
Global Warming weakens hurricanes
Posted on Monday, April 23 2007 @ 9:05 CEST by Thomas De Maesschalck