- Atlantic hurricane
An Atlantic hurricane or tropical storm is a
tropical cyclone that forms in the NorthAtlantic Ocean , usually in summer or autumn. Tropical storms have one-minute maximum sustained winds of at least 39 mph (34 knots, 17 m/s, 63 km/h), while hurricanes have one-minute maximum sustained exceeding 74 mph (64 knots, 33 m/s, 119 km/h). [National Hurricane Center. [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutgloss.shtml Glossary of NHC/TPC Terms.] Retrieved on 2006-10-28.] When applied to tropical cyclones, "Atlantic" generally refers to the entire "Atlantic basin", which includes the North Atlantic Ocean,Caribbean Sea and theGulf of Mexico .Most Atlantic tropical storms and hurricanes form between June 1 and November 30. [Chris Landsea. [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/E16.html Subject: E16) When did the earliest and latest hurricanes occur?] Retrieved on
2008-06-10 .] TheUnited States National Hurricane Center monitors the basin and issues reports, watches and warnings abouttropical weather systems for the Atlantic Basin as one of the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centers fortropical cyclone s as defined by theWorld Meteorological Organization .cite web | author =World Meteorological Organization | title = RSMCs | date = April 25, 2006 | accessdate = 2006-11-05 | work = Tropical Cyclone Programme (TCP) | url = http://severe.worldweather.wmo.int/rsmcs.html]Tropical disturbances that reach tropical storm intensity are named from a pre-determined list. Hurricanes that result in significant damage or casualties may have their names retired from the list at the request of the affected nations in order to prevent confusion should a subsequent storm be given the same name. [
NOAA [http://www.publicaffairs.noaa.gov/grounders/retirednames.html The Retirement of Hurricane Names.] Retrieved on2008-06-10 .] On average, 10.1 named storms occur each season, with an average of 5.9 becoming hurricanes and 2.5 becoming major hurricanes (Category 3 or greater). The climatological peak of activity is around September 10 each season.National Hurricane Center . [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pastprofile.shtml? Tropical Cyclone Climatology.] Retrieved on2008-06-10 .]teering factors
Tropical cyclone s are steered by the surrounding flow throughout the depth of thetroposphere (the atmosphere from the surface to about eight miles (12 km) high). Neil Frank, former director of theUnited States National Hurricane Center , used the analogies such as "a leaf carried along in a stream" or a "brick moving through a river of air" to describe the way atmospheric flow affects the path of a hurricane across the ocean. Specifically, air flow aroundhigh pressure systems and towardlow pressure area s influence hurricane tracks.In the tropical latitudes, tropical storms and hurricanes generally move westward with a slight tend toward the north, under the influence of the "
subtropical ridge ", a high pressure system that usually extends east-west across the subtropics.cite web | author =Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory , Hurricane Research Division | title = Frequently Asked Questions: What determines the movement of tropical cyclones?|publisher =NOAA | accessdate = 2006-07-25 | url = http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/G6.html] South of the subtropical ridge, surface easterly winds (blowing from east to west) prevail. If the subtropical ridge is weakened by an uppertrough , a tropical cyclone may turn poleward and then "recurve", [U. S. Navy. [http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/~chu/chap4/se200.htm Section 2: Tropical Cyclone Motion Terminology.] Retrieved on2007-04-10 .] or curve back toward the northeast into the main belt of the Westerlies. Poleward (north) of the subtropical ridge, westerly winds prevail and generally steer tropical cyclones that reach northern latitudes toward the east. Thewesterlies also steerextratropical cyclone s with their cold and warm fronts from west to east. [Hurricane Research Division. [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/G6.html Frequently Asked Questions: Subject G6) What determines the movement of tropical cyclones?] Retrieved on 2006-10-28.]Climatology
Climatology does serve to characterize the general properties of an average season and can be used as one of many other tools for making forecasts. Most storms form in warm waters several hundred miles north of theequator near theIntertropical convergence zone fromtropical wave s. TheCoriolis force is usually too weak to initiate sufficient rotation near the equator. cite web | author =Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory , Hurricane Research Division | title = Frequently Asked Questions: How do tropical cyclones form? | publisher =NOAA | accessdate = 2006-07-26 | url = http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/A15.html] Storms frequently form in the warm waters of theGulf of Mexico , theCaribbean Sea , and the tropicalAtlantic Ocean as far east as theCape Verde Islands, the origin of strong and long-lastingCape Verde-type hurricane s. Systems may also strengthen over theGulf Stream off the coast of the easternUnited States , wherever water temperatures exceed convert|26.5|C|F. cite web | author =Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory , Hurricane Research Division | title = Frequently Asked Questions: How do tropical cyclones form? | publisher =NOAA | accessdate = 2006-07-26 | url = http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/A15.html]Although most storms are found within tropical latitudes, occasionally storms will form further north and east from disturbances other than tropical waves such as
cold front s and upper-level lows. There is a strong correlation between Atlantic hurricane activity in the tropics and the presence of an El Niño or La Niña in thePacific Ocean . El Niño events increase the wind shear over the Atlantic, producing a less-favorable environment for formation and decreasing tropical activity in the Atlantic basin. Conversely, La Niña causes an increase in activity due to a decrease in wind shear. [Marc C. Cove, James J. O'Brien, et al. [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/Landsea/elnino/ Effect of El Niño on U.S. Landfalling Hurricanes, Revisited.] Retrieved on 2006-10-28.]June
The beginning of the hurricane season is most closely related to the timing of increases in
sea surface temperatures ,convective instability , and other thermodynamic factors. William M. Gray and Philip J. Klotzbach. [http://hurricane.atmos.colostate.edu/forecasts/2005/nov2005/ SUMMARY OF 2005 ATLANTIC TROPICAL CYCLONE ACTIVITY AND VERIFICATION OF AUTHOR’S SEASONAL AND MONTHLY FORECASTS.] Retrieved on 2006-10-28.] Although this month marks the beginning of the hurricane season, the month of June generally sees little activity, with an average of about 1tropical cyclone every 2 years. Tropical systems usually form in theGulf of Mexico or off the east coast of theUnited States .National Hurricane Center . [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/tracks1851to2007_atl_reanal.txt Atlantic Hurricane Database.] Retrieved on2008-06-10 .]July
Not much tropical activity occurs during the month of July, but the majority of hurricane seasons see the formation of one
tropical cyclone during July. Using data from 1944 to 1996, on average, half of the hurricane seasons had their first tropical storm by July 11, with a second having formed by August 8.National Hurricane Center . [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pastprofile.shtml? Tropical Cyclone Climatology.] Retrieved on2008-06-10 .]Formation usually occurs in the eastern
Caribbean Sea around theLesser Antilles , in the northern and eastern parts of theGulf of Mexico , in the vicinity of the northernBahamas , and off the coast ofThe Carolinas andVirginia over theGulf Stream . Storms travel westward through the Caribbean and then either move towards the north and curve near the eastern coast of theUnited States or stay on a north-westward track and enter theGulf of Mexico .National Hurricane Center . [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/tracks1851to2007_atl_reanal.txt Atlantic Hurricane Database.] Retrieved on2008-06-10 .]August
Decrease in wind shear from July to August produces a significant increase of tropical activity Anantha R. Aiyyer. [http://www.atmos.albany.edu/student/aiyyer/papers/JCLI3685man.pdf#search=%22vertical%20wind%20shear%20tropics%20lowest%20climatology%22 Climatology of Vertical Wind Shear Over the Tropical Atlantic.] Retrieved on 2006-10-28.] . An average of 2.8 tropical storms develop annually in August. On average, four named systems and one hurricane occur by August 30, and by September 4, the Atlantic ocean has spawned its first major hurricane.
National Hurricane Center . [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pastprofile.shtml? Tropical Cyclone Climatology.] Retrieved on2008-06-10 .]eptember
The peak of the hurricane season occurs in September and corresponds to low
wind shear and the warmestsea surface temperature s [Chris Landsea. [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/G5.html Frequently Asked Questions: G5) Why do tropical cyclones occur primarily in the summer and autumn?] Retrieved on 2006-10-28.] . The month of September sees an average of 3 storms a year. By September 24, the average season sees 7 named systems, 4 of which are hurricanes. In addition, two major hurricanes occur on average by September 28.National Hurricane Center . [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pastprofile.shtml? Tropical Cyclone Climatology.] Retrieved on2008-06-10 .]October
The favorable conditions found during September begin to decay in October. The main reason for the decrease in activity is increasing
wind shear , althoughsea surface temperature s are cooler than in September. Activity falls off markedly, with 1.8 cyclones developing on average, though there is a climatological secondary peak around October 20. [NOAA. [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/gifs/peakofseason.gifGraph showing average activity during the hurricane Season.] Retrieved on 2006-10-28.] . By October 21, the average season is expected to have 9 named storms with 5 hurricanes. A third major hurricane would be expected sometime between September 28 and the end of the year for half of all seasons.National Hurricane Center . [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pastprofile.shtml? Tropical Cyclone Climatology.] Retrieved on2008-06-10 .] In contrast to mid-season activity, the mean locus of formation shifts westward to the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, a reverse trend to the eastward progression of June through August.National Hurricane Center . [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/tracks1851to2007_atl_reanal.txt Atlantic Hurricane Database.] Retrieved on2008-06-10 .]November
Wind shear from
westerlies increases substantially through November, generally preventing cyclone formation. On average, one storm forms during November every other year. On rare occasions, a major hurricane forms, such as Category 4Hurricane Lenny in 1999, which formed in mid November, and Hurricane Kate, a Category 3 which formed in late November 1985.National Hurricane Center . [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/tracks1851to2007_atl_reanal.txt Atlantic Hurricane Database.] Retrieved on2008-06-10 .]December to May
Few tropical cyclones can be found in the time between seasons, though about one-third of the years since 1944 have experienced an off-season tropical or subtropical cyclone. In the 63 seasons between 1944 and 2008, 9
tropical cyclone s of tropical storm strength formed in May, 8 in December, and 4 total for all four months between January and April.National Hurricane Center . [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/tracks1851to2007_atl_reanal.txt Atlantic Hurricane Database.] Retrieved on2008-06-10 .] High vertical wind shear and lowsea surface temperature s generally preclude formation. Though a tropical cyclone has been observed in the Atlantic basin in every month in the year, no tropical cyclone is officially documented to have initially formed in January. Asubtropical cyclone formed in January in the 1978 season, and bothHurricane Alice and Tropical Storm Zeta formed in December and lasted into January.National Hurricane Center . [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/tracks1851to2007_atl_reanal.txt Atlantic Hurricane Database.] Retrieved on2008-06-10 .]Extremes
* The season in which the most tropical storms formed on record was the
2005 Atlantic hurricane season (28). That season was also the one in which the most hurricanes formed on record (15).National Hurricane Center . [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/tracks1851to2007_atl_reanal.txt Atlantic Hurricane Database.] Retrieved on2008-06-10 .]
* The1950 Atlantic hurricane season had the most major hurricanes on record (8).National Hurricane Center . [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/tracks1851to2007_atl_reanal.txt Atlantic Hurricane Database.] Retrieved on2008-06-10 .]
* The least active season on record since 1944 (when the database is considered more reliable) was the1983 Atlantic hurricane season , with one tropical storm, two hurricanes, and one major hurricane. Overall, the1914 Atlantic hurricane season remains the least active, with only one documented storm.National Hurricane Center . [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/tracks1851to2007_atl_reanal.txt Atlantic Hurricane Database.] Retrieved on2008-06-10 .]
* The most intense hurricane on record to form in the North Atlantic basin wasHurricane Wilma (2005) (882 mbar).National Hurricane Center . [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/tracks1851to2007_atl_reanal.txt Atlantic Hurricane Database.] Retrieved on2008-06-10 .]
* The longest-lasting hurricane was the San Ciriaco Hurricane of 1899 (28 days).National Hurricane Center . [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/tracks1851to2007_atl_reanal.txt Atlantic Hurricane Database.] Retrieved on2008-06-10 .]
* The fastest-moving hurricane wasHurricane Emily (1987) at 69 mph.National Hurricane Center . [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/tracks1851to2007_atl_reanal.txt Atlantic Hurricane Database.] Retrieved on2008-06-10 .]
* The mosttornado es spawned by a hurricane was 127 byHurricane Ivan (2004 season).National Hurricane Center . [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/tracks1851to2007_atl_reanal.txt Atlantic Hurricane Database.] Retrieved on2008-06-10 .]
* The strongest landfallinghurricane was theLabor Day Hurricane of 1935 (892 hPa).National Hurricane Center . [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/tracks1851to2007_atl_reanal.txt Atlantic Hurricane Database.] Retrieved on2008-06-10 .]
* The deadliest hurricane was theGreat Hurricane of 1780 (22,000 fatalities). [Edward N. Rappaport and Jose Fernandez-Partagas. [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pastdeadly.shtml? The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492-1996.] Retrieved on2008-06-10 .]
* Use ofradius of outermost closed isobar statistics indicate thatHurricane Ike was the largest tropical cyclone ever observed in the Atlantic basin. [cite blog |first=Jeff |last=Masters |title=Ike's record size. |url=http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=1082&tstamp=200809&page=9 |publisher=Weather Underground |date=2008-09-12 |accessdate=2008-09-27]
* The most damaging hurricane (adjusted for inflation) wasHurricane Katrina of the 2005 season which caused $81.2 billion in damages (2005 USD).Eric S. Blake, Edward N. Rappaport, andChris Landsea . [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/NWS-TPC-5.pdf The Dealiest, Costliest, and Most Intense United States Tropical Cyclones From 1851 to 2006 (and other frequently requested hurricane facts).] Retrieved on2008-03-19 .]Trends
:seealso|Atlantic hurricane reanalysisWhile the number of storms in the Atlantic has increased since 1995, there is no obvious global trend; the annual number of tropical cyclones worldwide remains about 87 ± 10. However, the ability of climatologists to make long-term data analysis in certain basins is limited by the lack of reliable historical data in some basins, primarily in the Southern Hemisphere.cite journal | author = Landsea, Chris, et al. | title = Can We Detect Trends in Extreme Tropical Cyclones? | url = http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/Landsea/landseaetal-science06.pdf | journal = Science | format = PDF| volume = 313 | pages = 452–454 | date = July 28, 2006 | accessdate = 2007-06-09 | doi = 10.1126/science.1128448 | pmid = 16873634] In spite of that, there is some evidence that the intensity of hurricanes is increasing.
Kerry Emanuel stated, "Records of hurricane activity worldwide show an upswing of both the maximum wind speed in and the duration of hurricanes. The energy released by the average hurricane (again considering all hurricanes worldwide) seems to have increased by around 70% in the past 30 years or so, corresponding to about a 15% increase in the maximum wind speed and a 60% increase in storm lifetime."cite web | url = http://wind.mit.edu/~emanuel/anthro2.htm | author = Emanuel, Kerry | title = Anthropogenic Effects on Tropical Cyclone Activity | accessdate = 2006-03-30 | date = January 2006] Emanuel theorized at the time that increased heat from global warming was driving this trend. However, Emanuel's own research in 2008 refuted this theory and many others contend that the trend doesn't exist at all, but is instead a figment created by faulty readings from primitive 1970s-era measurement equipment.Atlantic storms are becoming more destructive financially, since five of the ten most expensive storms in United States history have occurred since 1990. According to the
World Meteorological Organization , “recent increase in societal impact from tropical cyclones has largely been caused by rising concentrations of population and infrastructure in coastal regions.”cite press release |title=Summary Statement on Tropical Cyclones and Climate Change |publisher=World Meteorological Organization |date=2006-12-04 |url=http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/arep/press_releases/2006/pdf/iwtc_summary.pdf |format=PDF |language= |accessdate= |quote= ] Pielke "et al." (2008) normalized mainland U.S. hurricane damage from 1900–2005 to 2005 values and found no remaining trend of increasing absolute damage. The 1970s and 1980s were notable because of the extremely low amounts of damage compared to other decades. The decade 1996–2005 has the second most damage among the past 11 decades, with only the decade 1926–1935 surpassing its costs. The most damaging single storm is the1926 Miami hurricane , with $157 billion of normalized damage. cite journal | last = Pielke | first = Roger A., Jr. | authorlink = | coauthors = "et al." | year = 2008 | month = | title = Normalized Hurricane Damage in the United States: 1900–2005 | journal = Natural Hazards Review | volume = 9 | issue = 1 | pages = 29–42 | doi = 10.1061/(ASCE)1527-6988(2008)9:1(29) | url = http://forecast.mssl.ucl.ac.uk/shadow/docs/Pielkeetal2006a.pdf | accessdate = | quote = ]Often in part because of the threat of hurricanes, many coastal regions had sparse population between major ports until the advent of automobile tourism; therefore, the most severe portions of hurricanes striking the coast may have gone unmeasured in some instances. The combined effects of ship destruction and remote landfall severely limit the number of intense hurricanes in the official record before the era of hurricane reconnaissance aircraft and satellite meteorology. Although the record shows a distinct increase in the number and strength of intense hurricanes, therefore, experts regard the early data as suspect.cite web | publisher =
Bureau of Meteorology | url = http://www.bom.gov.au/bmrc/pubs/tcguide/ch1/ch1_3.htm | title = 1.3: A Global Climatology | author = Neumann, Charles J. | work = Global Guide to Tropical Cyclone Forecasting | accessdate = 2006-11-30]Christopher Landsea "et al." estimated an undercount bias of zero to six tropical cyclones per year between 1851 and 1885 and zero to four per year between 1886 and 1910. These undercounts roughly take into account the typical size of tropical cyclones, the density of shipping tracks over the Atlantic basin, and the amount of populated coastline. [cite book |title=Hurricanes and Typhoons: Past, Present and Future |chapter=The Atlantic hurricane database re-analysis project: Documentation for the 1851–1910 alterations and additions to the HURDAT database |last=Landsea |first=C. W. |authorlink= |coauthors="et al." |editor=Murname, R. J.; Liu, K.-B. |year=2004 |publisher=Columbia University Press |location=New York |isbn=0231123884 |pages=177–221 ]The number and strength of Atlantic hurricanes may undergo a 50–70 year cycle, also known as the
Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation . Nyberg "et al." reconstructed Atlantic major hurricane activity back to the early 18th century and found five periods averaging 3–5 major hurricanes per year and lasting 40–60 years, and six other averaging 1.5–2.5 major hurricanes per year and lasting 10–20 years. These periods are associated with the Atlantic multidecadal oscillation. Throughout, a decadal oscillation related to solar irradiance was responsible for enhancing/dampening the number of major hurricanes by 1–2 per year.cite journal |last=Nyberg |first=J. |authorlink= |coauthors=Winter, A.; Malmgren, B. A. |year=2005 |month= |title=Reconstruction of Major Hurricane Activity |journal=Eos Trans. AGU |volume=86 |issue=52, Fall Meet. Suppl. |pages=Abstract PP21C-1597 |id= |url=http://www.agu.org/cgi-bin/wais?dd=PP21C-1597 |accessdate= |quote= ]Although more common since 1995, few above-normal hurricane seasons occurred during 1970–94.cite web | author =
Risk Management Solutions | url = http://www.rms.com/Publications/60HUActivityRates_whitepaper.pdf | format = PDF | title = U.S. and Caribbean Hurricane Activity Rates. | date = March 2006 | accessdate = 2006-11-30] Destructive hurricanes struck frequently from 1926–60, including many major New England hurricanes. Twenty-one Atlantic tropical storms formed in 1933, a record only recently exceeded in 2005, which saw 28 storms. Tropical hurricanes occurred infrequently during the seasons of 1900–25; however, many intense storms formed during 1870–99. During the 1887 season, 19 tropical storms formed, of which a record 4 occurred after November 1 and 11 strengthened into hurricanes. Few hurricanes occurred in the 1840s to 1860s; however, many struck in the early 19th century, including an 1821 storm that made a direct hit onNew York City . Some historical weather experts say these storms may have been as high as Category 4 in strength.cite web | author = Center for Climate Systems Research | title = Hurricanes, Sea Level Rise, and New York City | url = http://www.ccsr.columbia.edu/information/hurricanes/ | publisher =Columbia University | accessdate = 2006-11-29]These active hurricane seasons predated satellite coverage of the Atlantic basin. Before the satellite era began in 1960, tropical storms or hurricanes went undetected unless a reconnaissance aircraft encountered one, a ship reported a voyage through the storm, or a storm hit land in a populated area. The official record, therefore, could miss storms in which no ship experienced gale-force winds, recognized it as a tropical storm (as opposed to a high-latitude extra-tropical cyclone, a tropical wave, or a brief squall), returned to port, and reported the experience.
Proxy records based on paleotempestological research have revealed that major hurricane activity along the
Gulf of Mexico coast varies on timescales of centuries to millennia.cite conference |first=Kam-biu |last=Liu |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Millennial-scale variability in catastrophic hurricane landfalls along the Gulf of Mexico coast |conference=23d Conf. on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology |pages= |publisher=Amer. Meteor. Soc. |date=1999 |location=Dallas, TX |url= |pages=374–377 |id= ] cite journal |last=Liu |first=Kam-biu |authorlink= |coauthors=Fearn, Miriam L. |year=2000 |month= |title=Reconstruction of Prehistoric Landfall Frequencies of Catastrophic Hurricanes in Northwestern Florida from Lake Sediment Records |journal=Quaternary Research |volume=54 |issue=2 |pages=238–245 |doi=10.1006/qres.2000.2166 |url= |accessdate= |quote= ] Few major hurricanes struck the Gulf coast during 3000–1400 BC and again during the most recent millennium. These quiescent intervals were separated by a hyperactive period during 1400 BC and 1000 AD, when the Gulf coast was struck frequently by catastrophic hurricanes and their landfall probabilities increased by 3–5 times. This millennial-scale variability has been attributed to long-term shifts in the position of theAzores High , which may also be linked to changes in the strength of theNorth Atlantic Oscillation . [cite journal |last=Elsner |first=James B. |authorlink= |coauthors=Liu, Kam-biu; Kocher, Bethany |year=2000 |month= |title=Spatial Variations in Major U.S. Hurricane Activity: Statistics and a Physical Mechanism |journal=Journal of Climate |volume=13 |issue=13 |pages=2293–2305 |doi=10.1175/1520-0442(2000)013<2293:SVIMUS>2.0.CO;2 |url= |accessdate= |quote= ]According to the Azores High hypothesis, an anti-phase pattern is expected to exist between the Gulf of Mexico coast and the Atlantic coast. During the quiescent periods, a more northeasterly position of the Azores High would result in more hurricanes being steered towards the Atlantic coast. During the hyperactive period, more hurricanes were steered towards the Gulf coast as the Azores High was shifted to a more southwesterly position near the Caribbean. Such a displacement of the Azores High is consistent with paleoclimatic evidence that shows an abrupt onset of a drier climate in
Haiti around 3200 14C years BP,cite journal |last=Higuera-Gundy |first=Antonia |authorlink= |coauthors="et al." |year=1999 |month= |title=A 10,300 14C yr Record of Climate and Vegetation Change from Haiti |journal=Quaternary Research |volume=52 |issue=2 |pages=159–170 |doi=10.1006/qres.1999.2062 |url= |accessdate= |quote= ] and a change towards more humid conditions in theGreat Plains during the late-Holocene as more moisture was pumped up theMississippi Valley through the Gulf coast. Preliminary data from the northern Atlantic coast seem to support the Azores High hypothesis. A 3000-year proxy record from a coastal lake inCape Cod suggests that hurricane activity increased significantly during the past 500–1000 years, just as the Gulf coast was amid a quiescent period of the last millennium.ee also
*
List of Atlantic hurricanes
*List of Atlantic hurricane seasons
*South Atlantic tropical cyclone
*List of named tropical cyclones
*Mediterranean tropical cyclone
*Pacific hurricane References
External links
* [http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/~chu/ Tropical Cyclone Forecasters' Reference Guide]
* [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pastprofile.shtml NHC Tropical Cyclone Climatology]
* [http://www.osdpd.noaa.gov/PSB/EPS/SST/al_climo_mon.html Monthly Mean Sea Surface Temperatures]
* [http://www.sno-bird.com/hurricane.htm Hurricane Preparation Guide]
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