Open AccessEl Niño suppressing storms
Author(s) -
Showstack Randy
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
eos, transactions american geophysical union
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1029/2002eo000405
Subject(s) - storm , atmospheric research , tropical cyclone , atlantic hurricane , climatology , environmental science , agency (philosophy) , meteorology , geography , geology , philosophy , epistemology
A strengthening El Niño has suppressed overall tropical storm activity during the 2002 Atlantic hurricane season, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced on 25 November. The hurricane season, which ended on 30 November, produced only four hurricanes, half the number during a typical year since 1995. Eight storm systems—twice the average amount—affected the U.S., however. NOAA hurricane forecasters at the agency's Climate Prediction Center, Hurricane Research Division, and National Hurricane Center had predicted normal to below‐normal overall storm activity, due to the strengthening El Niño, according to the agency. Climate Prediction Center director Jim Laver said that gaining a better understanding of the atmospheric conditions controlling seasonal hurricane activity is at the core of the agency's extended‐range hurricane outlooks. Laver said that while 2002 was the agency's fifth straight year of issuing accurate outlooks for overall hurricane season activity, “future success depends on more research into how global and regional climate patterns affect Atlantic hurricane activity.”