Question

After hurricane Irma, and partially trigger by news distributed by social media during that period, people in Ecuador (particularly in coastal places) have started to worry that changes in climate will translate into having tropical cyclones of similar magnitude hitting their country. After all, unusual patterns of rainfall, increase temperature that is melting glaciers in the Andes, etc., are relatively new climate-related events easily perceivable by people. As a climate expert, please explain to Ecuadorians briefly: 1)how tropical cyclones are formed and where they occur globally mentioning key factors for their formation and for them to gain strength; 2) using the previous information, discuss whether or not they have reason to worry about a tropical cyclone of high magnitude hitting Ecuador as a result of changes in climate.

Answer 1

1. Cyclones are one of nature’s responses in which winds move in a circular motion when hot and cold air currents meet under low atmospheric pressure.

Tropical cyclone formation takes place when sea-surface temperature rises and meet with vertical wind shear and high relative humidity leads to a winds swirl around the area of low atmospheric pressure.

2. Yes, people have reason to worry about a tropical cyclone of high magnitude hitting Ecuador as a result of changes in climate because due to climate change, sea-surface temperature is rising continuously which can lead to cyclone of high magnitude and come with more disaster.