Aerosols may take the wind out of hurricane sails

Aerosols produced by human activity may weaken the strength of cyclones and tropical cyclones, contrary to what scientists used to believe.

New modelling from Texas A&M University has found aerosols produced by human activities, such as those from factories, power plants, car and airplane emissions, tend to cause hurricanes to fall apart earlier and to lower wind speeds through their physical effect and impact on radiation.

However aerosols appear to increase the amount of precipitation in a hurricane or typhoon. The rain bands associated with these tropical storms seem to be larger and stronger.

Researchers say this will be helpful in the way that we forecast hurricanes and typhoons in the future.