Challenging Climate

19. Kerry Emanuel on hurricanes and hypercanes in a warming world

Professor Kerry Emanuel is a prominent meteorologist and climate scientist working at the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences at MIT. His research focuses on tropical meteorology and climate, with a specialty in hurricane physics. In this episode, we spoke with Kerry about what distinguishes a hurricane from tropical storms and tornadoes, and the dangers these natural hazards pose to societies. We also cover how these threats will evolve in an increasingly warming world, and what a hypercane is.

Links:  

  • Kerry Emanuel's profile 
  • Kerry's website
  • Carbon brief on a new study showing hurricanes strengthening and intensifying 
  • Kerry's book, Divine Wind: The History and Science of Hurricanes

Further information on hurricane impacts

  • Fewer deaths in tropical storms in recent decades
  • Economic impacts of hurricanes
  • The hypercane 
  • Normalized hurricane damage has not changed 

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