Scientists are learning more and more about our rivers and climate.
Read the original article here at WMNF.
Comments by OSFR historian Jim Tatum.
jim.tatum@oursantaferiver.org
– A river is like a life: once taken,
it cannot be brought back © Jim Tatum
New USF study reveals how rivers can affect hurricane strength
When river water mixes into the ocean, it forms a water mass called a river plume.
Researchers analyzed one of those plumes that stretched from Mississippi to Florida’s Panhandle and south to the Florida Keys
They found that the river plume created warm water that fueled Hurricane Idalia, which slammed Florida in 2023.
Dr. Chuanmin Hu is a professor of oceanography at USF.
“Usually a hurricane does intensify over the Gulf in August, but not that fast,” Hu told WMNF.
In less than 24 hours, the storm jumped from a Category 1 to a Category 4 in a phenomenon known as rapid intensification.
“In 2023, it’s a very rapid intensification from category one to category 4 in one day, and that’s what we found. Without such a river plume, on the other hand, the hurricane would not intensify this fast,” Hu said……
“If there’s an extensive river plume along the hurricane track, I would open my eyes. The hurricane may get stronger than predicted.” Hu said.
Last year’s hurricanes Milton and Helene also rapidly intensified before landfall.
