A study by scientists at Imperial College London revealed that climate change increased the likelihood of Hurricane Melissa striking Jamaica by four times, underscoring the urgent need for climate change adaptation.
- Hurricane Melissa, classified as a Category 5 storm on the Saffir–Simpson scale, was significantly intensified due to human-induced greenhouse gas emissions related to fossil fuel usage.
- The analysis conducted on October 29 demonstrated that climate change has not only raised the likelihood of such powerful tropical cyclones but also their devastating impacts on vulnerable regions like Jamaica.
- Imperial College London scientists emphasized that despite Jamaicas preparedness for hurricanes, the increasing intensity and frequency of storms due to climate change pose serious challenges for effective disaster management.
Why It Matters
Hurricane Melissas increased likelihood due to climate change signifies a critical turning point in understanding how human activities exacerbate natural disasters, highlighting the necessity for urgent measures in climate change adaptation to protect at-risk communities.