Rare By Design

Why are hurricanes common across so many tropical oceans, but almost completely absent from the South Atlantic? In this episode of The Climate Translation, Dr. Mac explores the unusual combination of ocean and atmospheric conditions that normally prevents hurricanes from forming between South America and Africa. Strong wind shear, fewer organized tropical disturbances, and less favorable ocean conditions all help make the South Atlantic one of the most hostile hurricane basins on Earth. The episode also looks at Hurricane Catarina, the only hurricane confirmed there during the satellite era, and the rare conditions that allowed it to form. From there, Dr. Mac examines what climate models suggest about the future. A warmer South Atlantic may make tropical development easier in some situations, but changes in wind shear and atmospheric circulation could continue suppressing storms. The result is a climate question with no simple answer: hurricanes may remain rare, but the few storms that do form could occur in a warmer, more energetic environment. CC0 Music from Charles Korpics - I want to Live! (Again)