Final answer:
Increased heat storage in the ocean raises surface temperatures, leading to more intense hurricanes with higher frequency. The accompanying rise in sea level and ocean acidification adversely affects coastal communities and marine ecosystems, heightening hurricane risks and potential damage.
Step-by-step explanation:
Most of the excess heat from the warming atmosphere is stored in the ocean, which significantly impacts hurricane risk. As the oceans absorb heat, particularly in the upper layers, they do not distribute it uniformly to the full depth, leading to an accelerated warming of the surface water. Warmer water fuels more intense hurricanes, as it contributes to higher sea surface temperatures and, consequently, an increase in atmospheric moisture. Both of these factors are vital in the formation and strengthening of hurricanes.
Hence, when we consider that there has been an increase in the ocean's temperature by about 0.035°C per year due to excess heat storage, the risk for more frequent and powerful hurricanes escalates. Additionally, the extreme weather conditions associated with this increased hurricane activity contribute to longer droughts, intense heat waves, and other forms of severe weather, while also amplifying the financial and structural damage caused by these storms.
This occurrence is exacerbated by the fact that the increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere not only contributes to the warming of the ocean but also leads to its acidification, affecting marine life and further disrupting the climate balance. As a result, cities along the coast need to face the compounded problems of sea-level rise and the enhanced power of hurricanes fueled by these climatic changes. Thus, these factors collectively raise the risk of catastrophic hurricane events now and in the future.