Humans causing stronger storms

By Richard Black
Environment correspondent, BBC News website

Increases in hurricane intensity are down to humanity's greenhouse gas emissions, according to new analysis.

Scientists calculate that two-thirds of the recent rise in sea temperatures, thought to fuel hurricanes, is down to anthropogenic emissions.

Research published last year found there had been a sharp rise in the incidence of category 4 and 5 storms - the strongest - in recent decades.

But other scientists caution there may be errors in historical storm records.

Hurricane formation is strongly linked to sea surface temperature, with warmer waters more likely to form storms.

Sea surface temperature and hurricane strength vary naturally, and deciphering a clear impact of human greenhouse gas emissions has been difficult.

However, the last two years have seen several major pieces of research which have at least increased understanding of the issue, without settling it conclusively.

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