New! Sign up for our email newsletter on Substack.

Katrina and Global Warming

An Associated Press article entitled “Katrina Reignites Global Warming Debate” echoes what many of us are asking. How much of this catastrophe can be blamed on human activities?

As a scientist, my first thought is that a single datum does not make a theory. But there is no question that this storm adds support to the idea that global warming will be very costly indeed. The fact that the Gulf of Mexico was running about one degree Celsius (one to two degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than normal was clearly a factor in Katrina’s remarkably fast and severe development. We may be in a natural cycle that makes severe storms more common, but it is reasonable to surmise that the warmer climate is exacerbating that effect.

Furthermore, as a number of books over the past several years (see below) have made increasingly clear, it is getting harder to dismiss human activity, especially the combustion of fossil fuels, as a major culprit. It is finally time to recognize that we can no longer afford to listen to those who misrepresent science in support of their political agendas.

So the next time someone tells me to cool my rhetoric because global warming may have beneficial effects for the United States, I’ll have a one-word retort: “Katrina.”



Books on climate change reviewed at The Science Shelf:


Did this article help you?

If you found this piece useful, please consider supporting our work with a small, one-time or monthly donation. Your contribution enables us to continue bringing you accurate, thought-provoking science and medical news that you can trust. Independent reporting takes time, effort, and resources, and your support makes it possible for us to keep exploring the stories that matter to you. Together, we can ensure that important discoveries and developments reach the people who need them most.



Comments are closed.