Impact of Climate Change on Cyclone Chido’s Intensity Revealed by Scientists

Cyclone Chido, which struck Mayotte as a Category 4 storm, has been linked to climate change by researchers at Imperial College London. The cyclone represents the most severe storm to hit the island in nearly 90 years, with wind speeds boosted by climate warming. Predictions indicate similar future storms may be 40 percent more likely due to global temperature increases.

Recent research conducted by scientists from Imperial College London has indicated that Cyclone Chido was significantly intensified by climate change as it approached Mayotte, an island in the Indian Ocean. The storm, which made landfall on Saturday, is reported to be the most destructive cyclone to impact Mayotte in nearly 90 years, with damage predominantly occurring to makeshift housing, where approximately one-third of the population resides. The study concluded that storms of Chido’s magnitude are 40 percent more likely to develop in the warmer climatic conditions of 2024 compared to the pre-industrial era.

Cyclone Chido, classified as a category four storm—the second highest rating on a five-point scale—exhibited wind speeds that had increased by three miles per second, compared to the climate prior to widespread fossil fuel consumption. Although France’s meteorological service refrained from definitively linking the cyclone’s intensity to global warming, it acknowledged that elevated ocean temperatures exacerbated storm severity. Consequently, it is suggested that the climate, which has warmed by approximately 1.3 degrees Celsius since the pre-industrial period, creates conditions that facilitate the formation of more volatile tropical storms.

To evaluate the effects of climate change on Cyclone Chido, the researchers utilized an advanced computer model capable of simulating millions of tropical cyclones. By doing this, they were able to estimate that climate change raised the intensity of storms similar to Chido. This development highlights the increasing threat that rising global temperatures pose to vulnerable regions such as Mayotte, where the consequences of such natural disasters can be devastating.

The relationship between climate change and the intensity of tropical storms has become a critical area of study as global temperatures continue to rise due to fossil fuel emissions and other human activities. The warming climate has been linked to more severe weather patterns, including increased wind speeds and precipitation associated with storms. As oceans warm, they provide additional energy that can amplify the strength and destructiveness of cyclones, making communities particularly susceptible to catastrophic impacts. Research in this realm aims to better understand how and why the frequency of powerful storms is increasing and the potential implications for regions most at risk.

In conclusion, the findings from Imperial College London underscore the significant role that climate change plays in enhancing the severity of tropical storms such as Cyclone Chido. The evidence suggests that the heightened intensity of such storms is linked to the current state of the climate, which influences wind speeds and moisture levels in the atmosphere. This research serves as a critical reminder of the urgent need to address climate change in order to mitigate the risks associated with increasingly violent weather events, particularly in vulnerable areas like Mayotte.

Original Source: www.france24.com