Final answer:
Research by Dr. K Emanuel at MIT indicates that the intensity of tropical cyclones, including higher wind speeds and increased precipitation, has increased in recent decades, due in part to climate change.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to research by Dr. K Emanuel at MIT, the intensity of tropical cyclones has increased in recent decades. The increase in both frequency and severity of hurricanes is linked to changes in climate, resulting in more destructive storms with higher wind speeds and increased precipitation.
For instance, the 2020 hurricane season was record-breaking in activity, with an unprecedented number of named storms and substantial economic damage due to the storms. With the rising temperatures, especially over the oceans, tropical storms are gaining more strength, which can lead to more intense hurricanes that rotate cyclonically due to the Earth's rotation, further fueled by warm water above 80 °F. These conditions make the outcomes of tropical depressions more severe, potentially leading to devastating hurricanes with winds in excess of 100 mph and heavy rainfall rates.