Ocean salinity may help forecast cyclone intensity
Forecasting tropical cyclone intensity — a key factor in the damage they cause — could be made more accurate by monitoring ocean salinity, according to a study. The differences in salinity caused by an inflow of big rivers in tropical regions cause a layering of ocean water temperature that may reduce the intensity of cyclones passing over its surface, scientists report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) last week (13 August). Although previous studies have showed that ocean surface cooling has a significant impact on the intensity of tropical cyclones, researchers say their study is the first time it has been shown on a global scale that upper ocean salinity may affect intensity of the storms.
