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Abstract
Florida has experienced an extraordinary decrease in the number and intensity of land-falling hurricanes over the last quarter century. When compared with the number and intensity of hurricane landfalls during the prior 50-year period, 1916-1965, Florida's landfalling hurricane activity during 1966-1990 has been quite minimal. This very sharp quarter-century reduction in Florida hurricane spawned destruction is closely related to the severe West African Sahel drought conditions which have prevailed since the late 1960s. As multi-decadal wet and dry periods are characteristic of West African (Sahelilan) rainfall conditions, it is to be expected that the current drought conditions will not continue indefinitely, and that a concurrent return to more active Florida hurricane landfalls should be expected. A return to normal or above normal West African rainfall conditions will herald a return to sharply increased numbers of landfalling Florida hurricanes - expecially for intense landfalling hurricanes. Because of the large Florida population and property development during the last 25 years, future amounts of hurricane destruction will be greater than ever before experienced. Hence, Florida's economic base could be greatly impacted when current West African drought is abated.
Florida has experienced an extraordinary decrease in the number and intensity of land-falling hurricanes over the last quarter century. When compared with the number and intensity of hurricane landfalls during the prior 50-year period, 1916-1965, Florida's landfalling hurricane activity during 1966-1990 has been quite minimal. This very sharp quarter-century reduction in Florida hurricane spawned destruction is closely related to the severe West African Sahel drought conditions which have prevailed since the late 1960s. As multi-decadal wet and dry periods are characteristic of West African (Sahelilan) rainfall conditions, it is to be expected that the current drought conditions will not continue indefinitely, and that a concurrent return to more active Florida hurricane landfalls should be expected. A return to normal or above normal West African rainfall conditions will herald a return to sharply increased numbers of landfalling Florida hurricanes - expecially for intense landfalling hurricanes. Because of the large Florida population and property development during the last 25 years, future amounts of hurricane destruction will be greater than ever before experienced. Hence, Florida's economic base could be greatly impacted when current West African drought is abated.
Date
9/1991
9/1991
Author(s)
Gray, William
Gray, William
Page(s)
26-
26-
Keyword(s)
hurricane; intensity; African rainfall;
hurricane; intensity; African rainfall;