Scientists Propose New Category 6 Rating for ‘Mega-Hurricanes’ Amidst Climate Crisis
Expansion of Hurricane Classification to Highlight Increased Risks
Hurricanes are growing stronger due to the climate crisis, leading to a call for the introduction of a new ‘category 6’ classification for these mega-storms, according to a recent study. Over the past decade, researchers have identified five storms that would have fit into this new category, encompassing hurricanes with sustained winds of 192mph or more. The study attributes this rise in mega-hurricanes to global heating and the subsequent warming of the oceans and atmosphere.
Michael Wehner, a scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, emphasized the astonishing scale of these storms, stating that winds of 192mph are even faster than most Ferraris and are hard to fathom. Wehner, alongside James Kossin of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, proposed the classification to raise awareness of the severity of these intensified storms.
Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the study suggests an extension to the well-established Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale, initially developed in the 1970s. The scale currently follows a 1 to 5 classification, with category 5 including storms with speeds of 157mph or more. The researchers argue that recent extreme storms, like Typhoon Haiyan and Hurricane Patricia, demand a new category that reflects their even more devastating nature.
Stark Increase in Hurricane Intensity Linked to Climate Crisis
Studies have shown that although the total number of hurricanes remains relatively consistent amidst the climate crisis, the severity of major storms has significantly amplified. The satellite records of the past four decades unveil an intensified cycle of hurricanes, driven by the increasing temperature of the oceans and the moisture-laden atmosphere. Hurricanes are now being fueled by a super-heated ocean, drawing additional energy and causing rapid intensification.
While the Saffir-Simpson scale predominantly focuses on wind speeds to gauge the destruction caused by hurricanes, the impacts on people primarily arise from factors like heavy rainfall and coastal flooding. The introduction of a category 6 classification aims to emphasize the heightened risks faced due to the climate crisis and raise awareness of the severe consequences of these storms.
The Need for Updated Scales to Reflect Changing Realities
Given the precedence of adapting measurement systems to reflect modern-day changes, such as Australia’s inclusion of a new color to represent sweltering heat in weather maps and the increased alert categories for coral reef heat stress, the research hopes to drive similar changes in hurricane classification. The proposal for a new category is an attempt to keep pace with the shifting climate conditions that generate more extreme meteorological events.
The study’s findings stress the urgency for global climate action to mitigate the impacts of the intensifying climate crisis. While no hurricane has yet officially been designated as a category 6 storm, scientists emphasize that it is merely a matter of chance and that the trend of increased storm intensity is set to continue without significant measures to combat climate change.
