1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:06,800 All right, so we've got this mountain of research articles and reports on the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. 2 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:07,600 Yeah. 3 00:00:07,900 --> 00:00:12,900 And you wanted to get into how climate change played into all of these hurricanes lately. 4 00:00:12,900 --> 00:00:13,400 Mm-hmm. 5 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:14,600 And looking through all this. 6 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:15,100 Yeah. 7 00:00:15,300 --> 00:00:17,500 It seems like there's some pretty interesting stuff in here. 8 00:00:17,500 --> 00:00:20,900 Oh, there's some compelling data here for sure, yeah. 9 00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:25,600 One of the things that jumped out at me right away was just how busy this season was. 10 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:26,100 Right. 11 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:29,400 18 named storms, 11 hurricanes. 12 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:29,900 Mm-hmm. 13 00:00:29,900 --> 00:00:33,400 Five of them reaching that major hurricane status. 14 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:33,900 Yeah. 15 00:00:34,500 --> 00:00:38,400 Seems like we're hearing about these really active seasons more and more often these days. 16 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:40,800 2024, it was a very active year. 17 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:41,300 Yeah. 18 00:00:41,300 --> 00:00:49,700 Yeah, to put it in perspective, an average season, you're looking at about 14 named storms, 7 hurricanes, and 3 major hurricanes. 19 00:00:49,700 --> 00:00:50,200 Okay. 20 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:53,400 So this was definitely above average activity. 21 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:55,200 And it wasn't just the number of storms either, right? 22 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:55,700 Right. 23 00:00:55,700 --> 00:00:59,700 We saw some pretty unusual stuff with how they formed and where they hit. 24 00:00:59,700 --> 00:01:03,200 Five hurricanes made landfall on the US Gulf Coast this year. 25 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:05,200 Yeah, the Gulf Coast got hammered this year. 26 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:06,200 That's a lot, isn't it? 27 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:11,700 While that concentration is rare, it's not completely unheard of. 28 00:01:11,700 --> 00:01:14,700 We saw similar patterns in 2005 and 2020. 29 00:01:14,700 --> 00:01:15,200 Right. 30 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:17,200 Both of those were big hurricane years. 31 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:17,700 Yeah. 32 00:01:17,700 --> 00:01:23,700 But what makes 2024 really stand out is the sheer intensity of some of these hurricanes. 33 00:01:23,700 --> 00:01:24,200 Okay. 34 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:28,200 Two of them, Barrel and Milton, reached category 5. 35 00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:29,200 Whoa, okay. 36 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:29,700 Yeah. 37 00:01:29,700 --> 00:01:31,700 Category 5, that's pretty rare, right? 38 00:01:31,700 --> 00:01:32,200 It is. 39 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:36,700 Only seven other years on record have had two or more Category 5 hurricanes in the Atlantic. 40 00:01:36,700 --> 00:01:37,200 Wow. 41 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:42,200 What's even more striking is that both Barrel and Milton went through this rapid intensification. 42 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:43,700 Yeah, I was reading about that. 43 00:01:43,700 --> 00:01:45,200 Which is becoming more and more common. 44 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:45,700 Uh-huh. 45 00:01:45,700 --> 00:01:48,700 And scientists think it's tied to climate change. 46 00:01:48,700 --> 00:01:50,200 Let's talk about Barrel for a second. 47 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:50,700 Okay. 48 00:01:50,700 --> 00:01:53,700 They felt like that one was in the news a lot, especially for how early it formed. 49 00:01:53,700 --> 00:01:56,200 Barrel was kind of an oddball in a lot of ways. 50 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:56,700 Uh-huh. 51 00:01:56,700 --> 00:02:00,700 It was the earliest hurricane to form so far east in the Atlantic. 52 00:02:00,700 --> 00:02:01,700 Wow. 53 00:02:01,700 --> 00:02:06,200 And the earliest to reach both Category 3 and Category 5 intensity that we've ever seen. 54 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:06,700 Really? 55 00:02:06,700 --> 00:02:07,200 Yeah. 56 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:08,700 So all kinds of records there. 57 00:02:08,700 --> 00:02:09,700 Absolutely. 58 00:02:09,700 --> 00:02:12,700 It also intensified at an incredible pace. 59 00:02:12,700 --> 00:02:13,200 Yeah. 60 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:18,200 Went from a tropical depression to a Category 5 hurricane in just three and a half days. 61 00:02:18,200 --> 00:02:19,200 Three and a half days. 62 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:19,700 Yeah. 63 00:02:19,700 --> 00:02:20,700 That's crazy. 64 00:02:20,700 --> 00:02:21,700 It is. 65 00:02:21,700 --> 00:02:24,700 I'm starting to see why you said these reports were sobering. 66 00:02:24,700 --> 00:02:25,700 Uh-huh. 67 00:02:25,700 --> 00:02:31,200 It feels like Barrel might be a case study in just how climate change is messing with hurricanes. 68 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:32,700 I think you're onto something there. 69 00:02:32,700 --> 00:02:33,200 Yeah. 70 00:02:33,200 --> 00:02:39,700 More and more research shows that these warmer ocean temperatures, which are fueled by climate change, 71 00:02:39,700 --> 00:02:42,700 are a big reason why these hurricanes are getting so strong. 72 00:02:42,700 --> 00:02:43,200 Right. 73 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:47,200 And I've got this report here from Climate Central and they're saying that every single 74 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:53,700 hurricane in 2024 was stronger because of human-caused ocean warming. 75 00:02:53,700 --> 00:02:54,700 That's a pretty bold statement. 76 00:02:54,700 --> 00:02:55,200 Yeah. 77 00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:58,700 But the research they have is pretty convincing. 78 00:02:58,700 --> 00:02:59,200 Okay. 79 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:05,700 They use this new rapid attribution framework to figure out the effect of that human-caused ocean warming. 80 00:03:05,700 --> 00:03:11,700 And they applied this methodology to hurricanes from 2019 to 2023 as well. 81 00:03:11,700 --> 00:03:12,700 Oh, wow. 82 00:03:12,700 --> 00:03:14,700 They're seeing a pretty clear trend here. 83 00:03:14,700 --> 00:03:15,200 Okay. 84 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:15,700 Yeah. 85 00:03:15,700 --> 00:03:18,700 And their findings for 2024 are pretty stark. 86 00:03:18,700 --> 00:03:19,200 Yeah. 87 00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:24,200 All 11 hurricanes intensified by 9 to 28 miles per hour. 88 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:24,700 Wow. 89 00:03:24,700 --> 00:03:27,200 Because of those warmer ocean temperatures. 90 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:30,700 So that's like a whole category jump for some of those hurricanes. 91 00:03:30,700 --> 00:03:35,700 Seven out of the 11 hurricanes were bumped up at least one category on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 92 00:03:35,700 --> 00:03:37,700 Just because of that extra intensity? 93 00:03:37,700 --> 00:03:38,700 Correct. 94 00:03:38,700 --> 00:03:39,200 Wow. 95 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:40,200 That's, uh- 96 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:40,700 Significantly. 97 00:03:40,700 --> 00:03:41,700 That's a big deal. 98 00:03:41,700 --> 00:03:42,200 Yes. 99 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:46,700 And we've got data that shows just how weird these warmer ocean temperatures were. 100 00:03:46,700 --> 00:03:47,200 Right. 101 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:51,200 The Climate Shift Index, they found that those daily sea surface temperatures across the 102 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:55,200 board were at least 44 times more likely to happen. 103 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:55,700 Yeah. 104 00:03:55,700 --> 00:03:58,200 Because of, you know, all the stuff we're doing to the planet. 105 00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:00,200 Human-caused climate change. 106 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:00,700 Yeah. 107 00:04:00,700 --> 00:04:01,200 It's a big factor. 108 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:02,700 44 times more likely. 109 00:04:02,700 --> 00:04:03,200 That's- 110 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:04,200 It's pretty alarming. 111 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:04,700 Yes, a lot. 112 00:04:04,700 --> 00:04:05,200 Yeah. 113 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:06,700 And it's not just the wind speeds, right? 114 00:04:06,700 --> 00:04:07,700 No, not just the wind speeds. 115 00:04:07,700 --> 00:04:11,200 These warmer temperatures make those rapid intensification events. 116 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:11,700 Exactly. 117 00:04:11,700 --> 00:04:12,700 Like we saw with Barrel. 118 00:04:12,700 --> 00:04:13,200 Yeah. 119 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:14,700 Way more likely. 120 00:04:14,700 --> 00:04:15,700 Much more likely. 121 00:04:15,700 --> 00:04:22,700 Which is a big deal because even a small increase in a hurricane's wind speed can drastically 122 00:04:22,700 --> 00:04:24,200 increase the damage it causes. 123 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:24,700 Right. 124 00:04:24,700 --> 00:04:27,700 And there's this report from Yale Climate Connections. 125 00:04:27,700 --> 00:04:28,200 Mm-hmm. 126 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:33,200 And they said that just a 10% increase in hurricane winds can double the damage. 127 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:33,700 Yeah. 128 00:04:33,700 --> 00:04:36,700 Hurricane damage increases exponentially with wind speed. 129 00:04:36,700 --> 00:04:37,200 Right. 130 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:40,700 So even small increases like the ones we're seeing because of climate change. 131 00:04:40,700 --> 00:04:41,200 Yeah. 132 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:44,200 And that can lead to much greater destruction on the ground. 133 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:46,200 So we're seeing stronger hurricanes. 134 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:46,700 Mm-hmm. 135 00:04:46,700 --> 00:04:47,200 Yes. 136 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:48,200 They're getting stronger faster. 137 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:48,700 Right. 138 00:04:48,700 --> 00:04:50,700 But it's the damage they cause. 139 00:04:50,700 --> 00:04:51,200 Absolutely. 140 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:53,200 And all the costs that come with that damage. 141 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:54,200 Yeah. 142 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:55,200 Really hits home. 143 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:55,700 Yeah. 144 00:04:55,700 --> 00:05:00,200 Are we starting to see the economic impact of all these climate-boosted hurricanes? 145 00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:00,700 We are. 146 00:05:00,700 --> 00:05:06,200 The Yale Climate Connections report also pointed to studies that found a direct link between 147 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:09,700 climate change and the damage caused by Helene and Milton. 148 00:05:09,700 --> 00:05:12,200 Two of this season's major hurricanes. 149 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:13,700 And what kind of numbers are we talking about here? 150 00:05:13,700 --> 00:05:18,700 For Helene, it's estimated that 44% of the economic damage was because of climate change. 151 00:05:18,700 --> 00:05:19,200 Wow. 152 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:21,700 And for Milton, 45%. 153 00:05:21,700 --> 00:05:22,200 Okay. 154 00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:23,700 That's a huge chunk of the cost. 155 00:05:23,700 --> 00:05:24,200 It is. 156 00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:28,700 These numbers just underscore the growing economic burden of climate change. 157 00:05:28,700 --> 00:05:29,200 Yeah. 158 00:05:29,200 --> 00:05:32,700 Beyond the immediate human toll these disasters take. 159 00:05:32,700 --> 00:05:36,700 So we've established that climate change is making these hurricanes worse, right? 160 00:05:36,700 --> 00:05:37,200 Yes. 161 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:40,200 And that this is having real-world economic consequences. 162 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:40,700 Right. 163 00:05:40,700 --> 00:05:45,200 Before we get too bogged down in the doom and gloom though, is there anything in these 164 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:47,200 reports that gives us some hope? 165 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:47,700 Wow. 166 00:05:47,700 --> 00:05:51,700 Or at least helps us understand how we can minimize these risks? 167 00:05:51,700 --> 00:05:54,700 Well, the big picture is certainly worrisome. 168 00:05:54,700 --> 00:05:58,200 It's worth remembering that hurricane development is a complex process. 169 00:05:58,200 --> 00:05:58,700 Okay. 170 00:05:58,700 --> 00:06:02,200 There are other factors at play beyond just warm ocean temperatures. 171 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:02,700 Right. 172 00:06:02,700 --> 00:06:07,200 And sometimes those other factors can actually counteract the effects of the warmer water. 173 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:07,700 Okay. 174 00:06:07,700 --> 00:06:13,200 The Yale report mentions Tropical Storms, Sarah, which had the potential to become a major 175 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:15,200 hurricane because of the warm water. 176 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:19,200 But its proximity to land prevented it from reaching its full potential. 177 00:06:19,200 --> 00:06:23,200 So basically running into land stopped it from getting worse. 178 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:23,700 Exactly. 179 00:06:23,700 --> 00:06:24,700 Interesting. 180 00:06:24,700 --> 00:06:30,200 It highlights that while warmer waters are like fuel for hurricanes, things like wind shear, 181 00:06:30,200 --> 00:06:36,700 how close they are to land, and the overall atmospheric conditions, all those things play a role too. 182 00:06:36,700 --> 00:06:37,700 It's complicated. 183 00:06:37,700 --> 00:06:38,200 It is. 184 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:39,700 It's a very complex system. 185 00:06:39,700 --> 00:06:44,200 It's not as simple as saying warmer oceans equal bigger batter hurricanes all the time. 186 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:44,700 Right. 187 00:06:44,700 --> 00:06:46,200 It's not a one-to-one correlation. 188 00:06:46,200 --> 00:06:46,700 Okay. 189 00:06:46,700 --> 00:06:47,200 Good to know. 190 00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:52,200 But we can say with more and more certainty that climate change is having a very real 191 00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:57,200 impact on the intensity of these storms, and that's likely to continue in the future. 192 00:06:57,200 --> 00:06:57,700 Okay. 193 00:06:57,700 --> 00:07:00,200 We'll dive more into those implications in just a bit. 194 00:07:00,200 --> 00:07:01,200 Sounds good. 195 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:09,200 So we've seen that the 2024 hurricane season was really active and intense, and that climate 196 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:10,700 change is playing a part in that. 197 00:07:10,700 --> 00:07:16,200 But let's dig a little deeper into some specific hurricanes and see how this connection actually 198 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:17,200 plays out. 199 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:18,200 Sounds good. 200 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:20,200 We've already touched on Hurricane Barrel. 201 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:22,200 Yeah, with all the early season records it set. 202 00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:23,200 Exactly. 203 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:26,200 Its rapid intensification was really something else. 204 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:27,200 Three and a half days, right? 205 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:32,200 Went from a tropical depression to a category five and just three and a half days. 206 00:07:32,200 --> 00:07:34,200 Yeah, that's unbelievable. 207 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:39,200 That kind of intensification fueled by those really warm ocean waters? 208 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:40,200 Yeah. 209 00:07:40,200 --> 00:07:44,200 It raises some serious concerns about what we might see in future hurricane seasons. 210 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:48,200 Makes you wonder if we're going to start seeing more category five hurricanes in the coming 211 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:49,200 years. 212 00:07:49,200 --> 00:07:50,200 It's a valid concern. 213 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:51,200 Yeah. 214 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:56,200 The Climate Central report said that Barrel's wind speeds were 18 miles per hour higher. 215 00:07:56,200 --> 00:07:56,700 Wow. 216 00:07:56,700 --> 00:07:59,200 Because of that human-caused ocean warming. 217 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:02,200 So, without that boost, it might have seen a category four? 218 00:08:02,200 --> 00:08:03,200 It might have, yeah. 219 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:05,200 Which means less damage, right? 220 00:08:05,200 --> 00:08:06,200 Potentially, yeah. 221 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:11,200 And speaking of damage, Barrel spawned a bunch of tornadoes after it hit Texas. 222 00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:14,200 It seems like we're seeing more tornadoes from hurricanes these days. 223 00:08:14,200 --> 00:08:16,200 It's a complex issue. 224 00:08:16,200 --> 00:08:22,200 There is ongoing research into the link between climate change and tornadoes. 225 00:08:22,200 --> 00:08:27,200 But it's still too early to say for sure if there is a direct connection. 226 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:29,200 So more research needed there? 227 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:30,200 Definitely. 228 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:37,200 So, Barrel is a pretty clear example of how climate change might be influencing hurricane 229 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:42,200 formation, intensification, and maybe even the tornadoes they create. 230 00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:45,200 Yeah, it could be a factor in all of those things. 231 00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:47,200 What about some of the other hurricanes this season? 232 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:48,200 Okay. 233 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:49,200 Like, Haleen? 234 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:53,200 Is it notable because of the massive flooding it caused in the southeast? 235 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:55,200 While Haleen itself was a strong storm. 236 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:56,200 Right. 237 00:08:56,200 --> 00:08:58,200 The flooding was made even worse by this other weather system. 238 00:08:58,200 --> 00:08:59,200 Right. 239 00:08:59,200 --> 00:09:01,200 There was already dumping rain on the region. 240 00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:02,200 Exactly. 241 00:09:02,200 --> 00:09:03,200 And then Haleen just added to it. 242 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:06,200 It was a really unfortunate combination of events. 243 00:09:06,200 --> 00:09:10,200 Yeah, do we know if climate change had anything to do with how much rain Haleen dumped? 244 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:14,200 It's tough to pin specific rainfall events on climate change. 245 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:17,200 But we do know that warmer air holds more moisture. 246 00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:18,200 Right. 247 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:20,200 And it's meant to heavier rainfall during hurricanes. 248 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:24,200 So, it's possible that climate change made that flooding even worse. 249 00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:25,200 It's definitely possible. 250 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:27,200 And what about Hurricane Milton? 251 00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:28,200 Okay. 252 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:29,200 That was the strongest of the season, right? 253 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:35,200 The strongest of the season, and it went through a really fast intensification just like Barrel. 254 00:09:35,200 --> 00:09:38,200 Milton is like the poster child. 255 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:39,200 Okay. 256 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:43,200 For how climate change can make a naturally powerful storm even more destructive. 257 00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:44,200 Okay. 258 00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:49,200 The Climate Central report said that Milton's winds were 23 miles per hour stronger. 259 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:50,200 23. 260 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:53,200 23 miles per hour stronger. 261 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:54,200 Wow. 262 00:09:54,200 --> 00:09:55,200 Because of human-caused ocean warming. 263 00:09:55,200 --> 00:09:59,200 So, without climate change, Milton would have been a lot weaker. 264 00:09:59,200 --> 00:10:00,200 Potentially much weaker, yes. 265 00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:05,200 And we talked earlier about how some studies linked a big chunk of the damage from Haleen 266 00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:06,200 and Milton to climate change. 267 00:10:06,200 --> 00:10:07,200 We did. 268 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:08,200 Didn't they? 269 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:09,200 They did. 270 00:10:09,200 --> 00:10:10,200 What was it, like 45% for Milton? 271 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:14,200 Researchers said that 45% of the economic damage was because of climate change. 272 00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:16,200 That's a big number. 273 00:10:16,200 --> 00:10:17,200 It is. 274 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:21,200 It highlights how the costs of climate change go way beyond just property damage. 275 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:22,200 Right. 276 00:10:22,200 --> 00:10:28,200 There's the disruptions to businesses, the strain on infrastructure, and the long-term impact 277 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:29,200 on communities. 278 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:30,200 Yeah. 279 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:32,200 It's not just about the stuff that gets broken. 280 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:33,200 Exactly. 281 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:37,200 It seems like the more we learn about these hurricanes, the more we see climate changes 282 00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:39,200 fingerprints all over them. 283 00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:44,440 It's a sobering realization, but it's important to remember that being aware of the problem 284 00:10:44,440 --> 00:10:47,200 is the first step towards doing something about it. 285 00:10:47,200 --> 00:10:48,200 Right. 286 00:10:48,200 --> 00:10:49,200 Knowledge is power in all that. 287 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:50,200 Exactly. 288 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:54,040 The more we understand about how climate change is affecting these storms, the better we can 289 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:57,880 prepare for them and adapt to this new reality we're facing. 290 00:10:57,880 --> 00:11:00,000 So we've looked at a few specific hurricanes. 291 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:01,000 We have. 292 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:05,560 And seen how climate change is affecting their intensity and behavior. 293 00:11:05,560 --> 00:11:08,200 Can we pull out any bigger trends from all this data? 294 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:09,200 Absolutely. 295 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:15,240 The 2024 hurricane season falls right in line with a growing body of evidence that climate 296 00:11:15,240 --> 00:11:18,560 change is making hurricanes stronger around the world. 297 00:11:18,560 --> 00:11:23,640 Those warmer ocean temperatures driven by human activities are giving these storms 298 00:11:23,640 --> 00:11:26,480 more energy to develop and intensify. 299 00:11:26,480 --> 00:11:28,000 And this isn't just a one-year thing. 300 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:29,320 No, not at all. 301 00:11:29,320 --> 00:11:34,600 The Climate Central report also looked at Atlantic hurricanes from 2019 to 2023. 302 00:11:34,600 --> 00:11:35,600 They did. 303 00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:36,600 What do they see there? 304 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:42,200 Well, climate change has been steadily increasing hurricane intensity over the past five years. 305 00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:43,200 Wow. 306 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:48,520 On average, hurricane wind speeds were about 18 miles per hour faster. 307 00:11:48,520 --> 00:11:50,880 Because of human-caused ocean warming? 308 00:11:50,880 --> 00:11:51,880 Correct. 309 00:11:51,880 --> 00:11:57,200 So we're seeing a clear pattern of increasing intensity and 2024 is just the latest example. 310 00:11:57,200 --> 00:11:58,200 Exactly. 311 00:11:58,200 --> 00:11:59,200 The science is pretty clear on this. 312 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:04,480 As long as we keep emitting greenhouse gases and warming the planet, we can expect hurricanes 313 00:12:04,480 --> 00:12:06,000 to become even more intense. 314 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:09,160 And that means more damage, more flooding, higher costs. 315 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:10,160 Exactly. 316 00:12:10,160 --> 00:12:15,440 Okay, before we get too deep into those implications, let's go back to one last point from the research. 317 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:20,080 Climate change is a big driver in hurricane intensification. 318 00:12:20,080 --> 00:12:22,480 But other factors are also at work. 319 00:12:22,480 --> 00:12:23,480 Absolutely. 320 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:24,480 Remember tropical storms, Sarah? 321 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:25,480 I do. 322 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:28,480 How its interaction with land stopped it from becoming a major hurricane? 323 00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:29,480 Right. 324 00:12:29,480 --> 00:12:30,480 Even with those warm waters. 325 00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:31,480 Yeah. 326 00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:37,200 So it's a good reminder that while warmer water can fuel hurricane development, things 327 00:12:37,200 --> 00:12:43,040 like wind shear, how close they are to land, and the overall atmospheric conditions, those 328 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:44,360 all matter too. 329 00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:45,680 So it's a complicated system. 330 00:12:45,680 --> 00:12:47,160 It is a complex system. 331 00:12:47,160 --> 00:12:54,000 And we need to understand all the pieces of the puzzle to accurately predict how hurricanes 332 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:57,520 will behave and how to prepare for future storms. 333 00:12:57,520 --> 00:12:58,640 So we've looked at the data. 334 00:12:58,640 --> 00:12:59,640 We have. 335 00:12:59,640 --> 00:13:03,560 We've looked at specific examples and considered the bigger trends. 336 00:13:03,560 --> 00:13:06,360 It's pretty clear that climate change is making hurricanes stronger. 337 00:13:06,360 --> 00:13:07,440 There's no doubt about it. 338 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:12,040 And the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season was a pretty powerful illustration of that. 339 00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:13,040 It was. 340 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:15,800 As we move into the last part of our deep dive. 341 00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:17,440 It's important to keep all this in mind. 342 00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:24,160 As we think about what these trends mean and what we can do about them, so we've seen just 343 00:13:24,160 --> 00:13:30,120 how powerful these storms can be and how much climate change is playing a role. 344 00:13:30,120 --> 00:13:33,960 We've got all this data, all these trends, and we've looked at what happened with specific 345 00:13:33,960 --> 00:13:35,680 hurricanes. 346 00:13:35,680 --> 00:13:38,680 It's a lot to take in, but where do we go from here? 347 00:13:38,680 --> 00:13:40,880 What can we actually do with this information? 348 00:13:40,880 --> 00:13:42,440 That's the million dollar question, right? 349 00:13:42,440 --> 00:13:45,560 We can't just watch as these storms get worse and worse. 350 00:13:45,560 --> 00:13:46,560 We have to do something. 351 00:13:46,560 --> 00:13:47,760 We have to take action. 352 00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:50,640 And there are two main things we need to focus on. 353 00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:52,440 Mitigation and adaptation. 354 00:13:52,440 --> 00:13:53,440 Okay. 355 00:13:53,440 --> 00:13:54,440 We'll go through that a little bit. 356 00:13:54,440 --> 00:13:55,440 Sure. 357 00:13:55,440 --> 00:13:58,360 What do we mean by mitigation and adaptation when we're talking about hurricanes and climate 358 00:13:58,360 --> 00:13:59,560 change? 359 00:13:59,560 --> 00:14:03,960 So mitigation is about tackling the root of the problem. 360 00:14:03,960 --> 00:14:06,360 Which in this case is climate change itself. 361 00:14:06,360 --> 00:14:08,360 So cutting down on those greenhouse gases. 362 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:09,360 Exactly. 363 00:14:09,360 --> 00:14:14,960 We're talking about reducing emissions to slow down how fast the planet is warming and 364 00:14:14,960 --> 00:14:17,240 limit the effects in the long run. 365 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:19,040 And adaptation. 366 00:14:19,040 --> 00:14:22,880 Adaptation is about adjusting to the changes that are already happening and preparing for 367 00:14:22,880 --> 00:14:24,640 what's coming down the road. 368 00:14:24,640 --> 00:14:25,640 Got it. 369 00:14:25,640 --> 00:14:28,680 So mitigation is trying to stop things from getting worse. 370 00:14:28,680 --> 00:14:32,280 And adaptation is dealing with the consequences we're already seeing and that are going to 371 00:14:32,280 --> 00:14:33,280 keep coming. 372 00:14:33,280 --> 00:14:34,280 You got it. 373 00:14:34,280 --> 00:14:35,280 Okay. 374 00:14:35,280 --> 00:14:42,640 So on the mitigation side, things like switching to renewable energy, being more energy efficient, 375 00:14:42,640 --> 00:14:43,960 protecting forests. 376 00:14:43,960 --> 00:14:48,440 All those things are critical for reducing emissions. 377 00:14:48,440 --> 00:14:51,920 Those are all things we hear a lot about, but are they actually making a difference? 378 00:14:51,920 --> 00:14:52,920 Yes. 379 00:14:52,920 --> 00:14:54,520 There's been a lot of progress in those areas. 380 00:14:54,520 --> 00:14:55,520 Okay, good. 381 00:14:55,520 --> 00:14:58,600 There's a global push towards renewable energy. 382 00:14:58,600 --> 00:15:04,160 And people are more aware of the need to shrink their carbon footprint. 383 00:15:04,160 --> 00:15:09,560 But we have to move faster if we want to avoid the worst case scenarios of climate change. 384 00:15:09,560 --> 00:15:11,840 Which includes these stronger hurricanes we've been talking about. 385 00:15:11,840 --> 00:15:14,000 It sounds like mitigation is a long term strategy. 386 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:15,000 It is. 387 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:16,000 What about adaptation? 388 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:19,680 What can we do in the short term to get ready for these stronger hurricanes? 389 00:15:19,680 --> 00:15:26,240 Immigration involves a lot of different strategies from making building homes tougher to better 390 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:29,520 early warning systems and evacuation plans. 391 00:15:29,520 --> 00:15:34,920 It's about making our communities and our infrastructure stronger, more resilient so 392 00:15:34,920 --> 00:15:37,600 they can withstand the impact of these storms. 393 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:42,560 So things like making buildings and bridges tougher so they can handle stronger winds 394 00:15:42,560 --> 00:15:45,560 and building homes higher up in areas that tend to flood. 395 00:15:45,560 --> 00:15:46,560 Exactly. 396 00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:48,200 Making sure they're above the flood level. 397 00:15:48,200 --> 00:15:52,160 And it's not just about buildings and bridges, we also have to invest in natural infrastructure. 398 00:15:52,160 --> 00:15:53,800 Okay, what does that mean? 399 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:56,760 Things like coastal wetlands and barrier islands. 400 00:15:56,760 --> 00:15:57,760 How do those help? 401 00:15:57,760 --> 00:16:00,000 They act as natural buffers. 402 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:02,760 And can help lessen the blow when a storm hits. 403 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:03,760 Interesting. 404 00:16:03,760 --> 00:16:05,600 This all sounds pretty expensive though, right? 405 00:16:05,600 --> 00:16:06,760 Yeah, it does. 406 00:16:06,760 --> 00:16:11,760 And the question is, can we actually afford to do all of this on a large scale? 407 00:16:11,760 --> 00:16:17,400 It's true, adaptation takes a lot of money from both governments and private businesses. 408 00:16:17,400 --> 00:16:19,880 But not doing anything is even more expensive. 409 00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:23,360 Think about all the economic damage hurricanes already cause. 410 00:16:23,360 --> 00:16:24,720 Yeah, it's a lot. 411 00:16:24,720 --> 00:16:28,000 And it's only going to get worse as these storms become more intense. 412 00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:32,800 So spending money on adaptation now could actually save us money down the road. 413 00:16:32,800 --> 00:16:33,800 Exactly. 414 00:16:33,800 --> 00:16:35,280 And it could save lives too. 415 00:16:35,280 --> 00:16:36,280 That's a good point. 416 00:16:36,280 --> 00:16:40,680 It's not just about the money, it's about protecting people, protecting their homes 417 00:16:40,680 --> 00:16:42,180 and communities. 418 00:16:42,180 --> 00:16:47,360 By taking steps to get ready for this changing climate, we can lessen the human cause. 419 00:16:47,360 --> 00:16:49,360 And the cost of these disasters. 420 00:16:49,360 --> 00:16:53,040 We've talked about both mitigation and adaptation. 421 00:16:53,040 --> 00:16:54,440 Both are super important. 422 00:16:54,440 --> 00:16:56,480 But where do we even start? 423 00:16:56,480 --> 00:17:00,600 What are the most urgent things we need to do to deal with these increasingly strong 424 00:17:00,600 --> 00:17:01,800 hurricanes? 425 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:03,320 We can't pick just one. 426 00:17:03,320 --> 00:17:04,800 We need to do it all. 427 00:17:04,800 --> 00:17:11,200 We need to double down on our efforts to slow down climate change by cutting those greenhouse 428 00:17:11,200 --> 00:17:12,880 gas emissions. 429 00:17:12,880 --> 00:17:18,320 We have to invest in making our communities more resilient to hurricanes. 430 00:17:18,320 --> 00:17:22,120 And we need to keep researching these storms so we can better understand them and how they're 431 00:17:22,120 --> 00:17:23,920 changing as the climate changes. 432 00:17:23,920 --> 00:17:25,320 So the multi-pronged attack. 433 00:17:25,320 --> 00:17:26,320 Yes. 434 00:17:26,320 --> 00:17:27,560 That needs everyone working together. 435 00:17:27,560 --> 00:17:31,240 Governments, businesses, individuals, we all have a role to play. 436 00:17:31,240 --> 00:17:33,160 It's been a really informative deep dive. 437 00:17:33,160 --> 00:17:34,160 Good. 438 00:17:34,160 --> 00:17:35,160 I'm glad. 439 00:17:35,160 --> 00:17:38,040 But I have to admit, it's also a bit overwhelming. 440 00:17:38,040 --> 00:17:39,320 I get it. 441 00:17:39,320 --> 00:17:46,080 It's clear that we're facing a big challenge with these hurricanes becoming more intense. 442 00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:50,720 But it's also clear that we have ways to deal with it if you're willing to take action. 443 00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:52,760 I think that's a great way to put it. 444 00:17:52,760 --> 00:17:55,800 We can't afford to just sit back and do nothing. 445 00:17:55,800 --> 00:18:00,720 We have the knowledge, the tools, and the ability to deal with this. 446 00:18:00,720 --> 00:18:04,160 What we need now is the collective will to act. 447 00:18:04,160 --> 00:18:08,960 And on that note, as we wrap up this deep dive, I think it's important to remember that we're 448 00:18:08,960 --> 00:18:10,720 not helpless in all of this. 449 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:11,720 Absolutely not. 450 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:16,680 The choices we make today will determine how bad things get in the future. 451 00:18:16,680 --> 00:18:41,960 The future is still in our hands.