Tropical cyclones
Research into the effect of climate change on tropical cyclone activity is inconclusive. Some research suggests that as temperatures increase, tropical cyclones could become more intense, if not more frequent, but not all research supports this. However, even if tropical cyclones don’t become more destructive, sea level rise means impacts due to storm surge flooding at least will increase.
For more information about research into tropical cyclone activity, see references below:
Bengtsson, L., Hodges, K.I., Esch, M., Keenlyside, N., Kornbleuh, L., Luo, J.-J., and Yamagata, T., 2007, How may tropical cyclones change in a warmer climate?, Tellus A, 59(4), 539-561.
IPCC, 2007, Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability, Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, M.L. Parry, O.F. Canziani, J.P. Palutikof, P.J. van der Linden and C.E. Hanson, Eds., Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 976pp. Pages 286, Fig 5.2 and p297, Fig. 5.3
Emanuel, K., Sundararajan, R., and Williams, J., 2008, Hurricanes and Global Warming: Results from downscaling IPCC AR4 simulations, Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 89, 347-367.
Meehl, G.A., T.F. Stocker, W.D. Collins, P. Friedlingstein, A.T. Gaye, J.M. Gregory, A. Kitoh, R. Knutti, J.M. Murphy, A. Noda, S.C.B. Raper,I.G. Watterson, A.J. Weaver and Z.C. Zhao, 2007: Global Climate Projections. Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Solomon, S.,D. Qin, M. Manning, Z. Chen, M. Marquis, K.B. Averyt, M. Tignor and H.L. Miller, Eds., Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA, 747-846.
Vecchi, G. A., K. L. Swanson, et al. (2008). "CLIMATE CHANGE: Whither Hurricane Activity?" Science 322(5902): 687-689. Science Magazine.
WMO, 2006, Statement on Tropical Cyclones and Climate Change, WMO International Workshop on Tropical Cyclones, IWTC-6, San Jose, Costa Rica, Statement on Tropical Cyclones and Climate Change, PDF 253.48 KB
The impact of a global temperature rise
PDF documents:
The impact of a global temperature rise of 4ºC (7 ºF)
全球气温上升4摄氏度（7华氏度）的影响
Las repercusiones de una subida de 4 °C (7 °F) en la temperatura media del planeta
Воздействие повышения мировой температуры на 4 °C (7 °F)
O impacto de um aumento de 4 °C (7 °F) na temperatura global
Incidence d’un réchauffement planétaire de 4 °C (7 °F)
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