Study: Warming Atmosphere Might Cause More Intense US Storms
2023-04-04
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1A new study predicts continued warming will lead to more intense and deadlier storms hitting parts of the United States.
2Scientists say higher temperatures are expected to cause an increase in so-called "supercell" storms.
3Weather scientists say supercells can bring high winds, heavy rain, hail and tornadoes.
4The new study was recently published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society.
5It predicted a nationwide increase of 6.6 percent in the number of supercells by 2100.
6The study said there could be a 25.8 percent increase in areas affected by supercells as well as in the amount of time the storms last.
7The study's writers say some areas of the U.S. South can expect more intense storms.
8Rolling Fork, Mississippi, was hit by a powerful and deadly tornado recently.
9Storms that hit areas of Mississippi and Alabama since March 24 killed at least 21 people.
10The new study projected that the American South would get at least one supercell per year by the year 2100.
11Here are some examples of past supercell events.
12A 2013 tornado killed 51 people in Moore, Oklahoma.
13In 2011, a tornado in Joplin, Missouri, killed 161 people.
14And in the same year, tornadoes killed more than 320 people in Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and other parts of the South.
15The study used computer simulations.
16A computer used a model to predict what will happen 73 years from now with different levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
17Walker Ashley is a professor of disaster geography at Northern Illinois University.
18He told The Associated Press that people are already living with more serious storms.
19"The data that I've seen has persuaded me that we are in this experiment and living it right now," Ashley said.
20"What we're seeing in the longer term is actually occurring right now."
21Ashley and others said that while the Mississippi tornado fits the projections, it was just a single weather event.
22This is different from making climate predictions over many years covering large areas.
23Past studies have not been able to predict supercells and tornadoes in future climate simulations because they are small weather events.
24The study identified large changes in where and when the storms hit.
25The researchers said more intense storms are to be expected in the eastern United States.
26If warming is more moderate, the study predicts parts of eastern Mississippi and eastern Oklahoma will get three more supercells every two years.
27In addition, eastern Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, western Tennessee and eastern Georgia can expect to get one more supercell every other year.
28If warming is serious, the study projects similar changes but with worsening supercells over eastern Oklahoma, Arkansas and southern Missouri.
29Ashley said cities that should see more supercells as warming worsens include Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas; Little Rock, Arkansas; Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee; Tupelo and Jackson, Mississippi; and Birmingham, Alabama.
30I'm Bryan Lynn.
1A new study predicts continued warming will lead to more intense and deadlier storms hitting parts of the United States. 2Scientists say higher temperatures are expected to cause an increase in so-called "supercell" storms. Weather scientists say supercells can bring high winds, heavy rain, hail and tornadoes. 3The new study was recently published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. It predicted a nationwide increase of 6.6 percent in the number of supercells by 2100. The study said there could be a 25.8 percent increase in areas affected by supercells as well as in the amount of time the storms last. 4The study's writers say some areas of the U.S. South can expect more intense storms. Rolling Fork, Mississippi, was hit by a powerful and deadly tornado recently. Storms that hit areas of Mississippi and Alabama since March 24 killed at least 21 people. 5The new study projected that the American South would get at least one supercell per year by the year 2100. 6Here are some examples of past supercell events. A 2013 tornado killed 51 people in Moore, Oklahoma. In 2011, a tornado in Joplin, Missouri, killed 161 people. And in the same year, tornadoes killed more than 320 people in Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and other parts of the South. 7The study used computer simulations. A computer used a model to predict what will happen 73 years from now with different levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. 8Walker Ashley is a professor of disaster geography at Northern Illinois University. He told The Associated Press that people are already living with more serious storms. 9"The data that I've seen has persuaded me that we are in this experiment and living it right now," Ashley said. "What we're seeing in the longer term is actually occurring right now." 10Ashley and others said that while the Mississippi tornado fits the projections, it was just a single weather event. This is different from making climate predictions over many years covering large areas. 11Past studies have not been able to predict supercells and tornadoes in future climate simulations because they are small weather events. 12The study identified large changes in where and when the storms hit. The researchers said more intense storms are to be expected in the eastern United States. 13If warming is more moderate, the study predicts parts of eastern Mississippi and eastern Oklahoma will get three more supercells every two years. In addition, eastern Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, western Tennessee and eastern Georgia can expect to get one more supercell every other year. 14If warming is serious, the study projects similar changes but with worsening supercells over eastern Oklahoma, Arkansas and southern Missouri. 15Ashley said cities that should see more supercells as warming worsens include Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas; Little Rock, Arkansas; Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee; Tupelo and Jackson, Mississippi; and Birmingham, Alabama. 16I'm Bryan Lynn. 17The Associated Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. 18_________________________________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20hail - n. small, hard pieces of frozen rain that fall from the sky 21tornado - n. an extremely strong and dangerous wind that blows in a circle and can cause major destruction 22project -v. to estimate for a time in the future 23simulation - n. a creation of something that behaves or looks like something real but is not 24occur - v. to happen 25____________________________________________________________________ 26What do you think of this story? We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 27Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.