Scientists hawk rising sea surface temperatures to predict hurricanes

People living on the hurricane-prone coastal zones are now living with their hearts in their mouths since the devastating and killer tropical cyclones are predicted for the prevailing months this year.

Though always alert bout an approaching storm or cyclone, they surely need their gazing crystallized. Cuing up with these worries, the NASA scientists are keeping eyes for any forthcoming hurricanes.

They are keeping a watch on the sea surfaces, rather their temperatures - the key element leading to the formation of tropical cyclones. And, the surfaces in the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean and eastern Atlantic Ocean are found to be warming up by the middle of August!

The surface temperatures of the Gulf of Mexico seas were all found to be over 80 degrees Fahrenheit -- which or even warmer seas can trigger tropical depressions to form tropical storms, eventually growing them into hurricanes.

This natural annual warming of the seas contributes to the possible formation of hurricanes in the Gulf.

To provide a breath of relief to the habitants of the hurricane-prone Gulf and the Atlantic, NASA's Bill Patzert, oceanographer at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. said,

The many Atlantic and Gulf citizens still reeling from the shock of the 2004 and 2005 Atlantic hurricane seasons, received some good news ... the Atlantic sea surface temperatures that fuel hurricanes are somewhat cooler than the past few years. Based on this, some forecasters have reduced their forecasts. But the news is mixed.

So, most parts of the world's population and resources especially that at the coastal areas, are at the mercy of the rising temperatures of the sea surface. If this is the case, the future has more in store for such nature's devastating furies.

Image Credit: NASA/SVS