Explain why storms get stronger in the Southern Hemisphere.

For the first time, scientists at the University of Chicago were able to explain the phenomenon of stronger storms in the southern hemisphere compared to the strength of storms in the northern hemisphere.

Proceedings Notes of National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) points out that since sailors discovered South America, they have realized that storms in these areas are stronger than in the northern hemisphere. This is exactly what the researchers were able to confirm using satellites, as research and observation data showed that the strength of storms in the southern half is 24 percent stronger compared to storms in the northern half. But the cause could not be established.

To determine it, experts have collected comprehensive information from satellites and subsequent results, as well as available theories and combined them into a climate model. They then eliminated various variables and determined the effect of each on the storms.

The first variable was the topography: large mountain ranges impede the flow of air, which reduces the number of storms. There are many large mountain ranges in the northern half. When the researchers removed these chains from the model, half the difference in storm strength between the two hemispheres disappeared.

It turns out that the other half is connected with currents in the oceans: water moves around the globe like a slow but powerful conveyor belt. It descends from the North Pole, passes along the ocean floor, rises near Antarctica, and then moves near the surface. This creates a difference between the two hemispheres. When the scientists removed this shower from the model, they noticed that the second half of the differences in storm intensity disappeared.

In addition, after analyzing subsequent data over the past decades, the researchers noted an increase in the asymmetry of storms compared to the 1980s. That is, the Southern Hemisphere became more active, while in the Northern Hemisphere the changes were insignificant.

According to the researchers, the cause is due to oceanic changes in the southern hemisphere, which are similar to changes in the northern hemisphere. But this effect in the northern hemisphere is offset by the absorption of sunlight due to the melting of sea ice and snow.

Source: Linta. EN

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