What global warming may do to future storms.

• Author: Kristof, Nicholas D.
• Position: OPINION - Brief Article

If the White House wants to move the debate about Hurricane Katrina beyond the "blame game," here's a constructive step that President Bush could take to protect people in the future: Tackle global warming. True, we don't know whether Katrina was linked to global warming. But there are indications that global warming will produce more Category 5 hurricanes. Hurricanes derive their power in part from warm water, and so forecasting models show future hurricanes becoming more severe as sea surface temperatures rise. Global warming also makes hurricanes more destructive...