Previous Year Question

Global Warming is increasing the Earth's average temperature and Sea Surface Temperature. Warmer ocean water increases Evaporation, raising the amount of water vapour in the atmosphere. When this water vapour condenses, it releases Latent Heat, which can supply energy to powerful storm systems. Consequently, Climate Change influences the intensity of heavy rainfall, destructive storms, and Extreme Weather Events in many regions.

Cyclones are rotating low-pressure systems that mainly develop over warm oceanic regions. Tropical Cyclones are known by different names in different ocean basins. They are called Hurricanes in the Atlantic and eastern North Pacific Oceans and Typhoons in the western North Pacific Ocean. Rising sea temperatures can increase cyclone intensity, rainfall rates, and the likelihood of Rapid Intensification. According to the IPCC, the proportion of very intense tropical cyclones is likely to increase.

Storms is a broad term covering various weather events involving strong winds, rainfall, and thunderstorms. A Tornado is a rapidly rotating column of air that can extend from a thunderstorm cloud to the Earth's surface. It is different from a Tropical Cyclone. Greater atmospheric moisture in a warmer climate can create conditions favourable for intense rainfall-producing storms. However, scientific evidence for a definite global increase in tornado frequency and intensity due to warming remains limited. According to NOAA, the average annual number of tornadoes rated EF1 or stronger in the United States has remained relatively stable, although the frequency of large Tornado Outbreaks has increased.