JOR 221 Project 8
Issues Larger than The Earth
A Comparative Analysis between the studies of World Renown Scientists Dr. Isaac Ginis and Dr. Jason Box
By Kevin Murray
Narragansett- Dr. Isaac Ginis, a world-renown scientist, has been studying the relationship between our oceans, atmosphere and hurricanes; while, Dr. Jason Box has been studying and surveying our atmosphere and the rising carbon dioxide levels in Greenland, and carefully measuring annual glacier levels.
Carbon monoxide also known as CO2 is a molecular compound that traps greenhouse gases and can cause our Earth and atmosphere to heat up to extreme temperatures which would in turn effect our hurricanes.
Annually, there are about 9 hurricanes but scientists aren’t sure what the significance of this number is, Ginis stated.
During Ginis’s presentation, he explained the correlation between ocean temperatures and the amount of tropical storms that occur annually.
Currently, we experience around nine tropical storms a year; Ginis predicts that warmer oceans could potentially lower that number.
Box has reached a critical point in his research; correlating our atmospheric CO2 counts which is 400 parts per million, to a time in Earth’s history when its sea levels were 70 feet higher, when interviewed by Bill Maehr.
Ginis explains that hurricanes draw energy from warm bodies of water, and the warmer the water, the stronger the hurricane.
When asked how the rise in carbon dioxide would affect our oceans and annual hurricanes, Ginis answered with conviction.
“I’m guessing that annual number of hurricanes will decrease, but these storms will be much stronger and devastating,” said Ginis when asked about the effects of the increased CO2 in the atmosphere.
Box, a veteran Glaciologist that currently does research and studies in Greenland expressed concern for the amount of CO2 in our atmosphere, and how it will effect our glaciers and oceans.
Box explains that not only does the CO2 already in our atmosphere hurt us; the carbon that is trapped under the Artic seafloor can have detrimental effects on our climate and tropical storms.
“If even a small fraction of Arctic sea floor carbon is released to the atmosphere, we're f'd,” Box tweeted, while doing research in Greenland.
Ginis said, “Our Oceans are the energy source, but also the energy sink.”
When these storms have more heat to draw energy from, it results in stronger hurricanes and harsher winds, dumping more heat in the ocean.
We have only had two hurricanes in the U.S. that have made landfall as category 5 storms, Camille and Andrew. The devastation has been unmatched ever since.
The correlation between our oceans, atmosphere and storms are uncanny, but what can be done to prevent such devastating storms?
Ginis says preparation is the key to survival, while Box concludes that our fate is sealed unless we cut down CO2 emissions, which would slow down the cycle of forest fires and other implications of increased atmospheric CO2.
Box and Ginis both express a huge concern with the amount of carbon monoxide in the atmosphere and in the ocean, and think that our world could be changing drastically.
Ginis mentioned that we have gotten better at predicting hurricanes, but we still are having trouble predicting the strength of the storms, which ultimately hurts our ability to prepare for them.
With hotter oceans, stronger storms, harsher winds and higher waves, not being able to predict the strength of these storms can leave us vunerable.