More hurricanes to hit western Europe due to global warming

Abstract

We use a very high resolution global climate model (~25 km grid size) with prescribed sea surface temperatures to show that greenhouse warming enhances the occurrence of hurricane-force (> 32.6 m s-1) storms over western Europe during early autumn (August-October), the majority of which originate as a tropical cyclone. The rise in Atlantic tropical sea surface temperatures extends eastward the breeding ground of tropical cyclones, yielding more frequent and intense hurricanes following pathways directed toward Europe. En route they transform into extratropical depressions and reintensify after merging with the midlatitude baroclinic unstable flow. Our model simulations clearly show that future tropical cyclones are more prone to hit western Europe, and do so earlier in the season, thereby increasing the frequency and impact of hurricane force winds. Key Points Hurricanes will hit Europe in future climateStorm season will shift from winter to early autumnNew results from very high resolution global climate model ©2013. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.