Global warming, hurricanes not connected, study finds

Tom Knutson, a respected meteorologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s fluid dynamics lab in Princeton, N.J., released a study Sunday that finds global warming is NOT connected to an increase in the number of hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean.

Knutson, who had previously expressed acceptance of the Algorite party line that hurricanes would increase because of global warming, has changed his position on the subject, finding that warmer temperatures should actually decrease the number of hurricanes in the Atlantic and making landfall.

The study published in Nature Geoscience predicts, based on a computer model, that by the end of the century the number of hurricanes in the Atlantic will fall by 18 percent and the number making landfall in the U.S. will fall by 30 percent. On the other hand, Knutson’s model predicts rainfall within 30 miles of a hurricane may jump by 37 percent and wind strength may increase slightly, about 2 percent.

The study was faulted by several scientists who say Knutson’s model doesn’t accurately replicate storms. Knutson acknowledged his model isn’t perfected but says it does provide a coarse overview of storm trends.

NOAA hurricane meteorologist Chris Landsea, who wasn’t involved in the study, defended his colleague’s findings as “very consistent with what’s being said all along.”

“I think global warming is a big concern, but when it comes to hurricanes the evidence for changes is pretty darn tiny,” Landsea told the Associated Press.

Al Gore’s scare campaign has always rested on the dubious claims that global warming would cause all sorts of horrible catastrophes. But if warming would actually lead to fewer hurricanes, that takes some of the sting out of the bee.

Gore’s scientific “consensus” looks to be losing a few more members. …