With climate change impacting temperatures all over the world, there has been a drastic change in the power and frequency of hurricanes. The reason for this is the warming of our oceans. The hurricanes feed off of the warm water and become stronger. If they continue to get stronger many lesser developed countries are going to have major problems recovering. And even places in the United States will feel the impact.
Satellite image of Hurricane Maria *
Puerto Rico has been hit by a couple of powerful hurricanes in the past few years. The damage has not only impacted the residents but the ecosystem as well. A new study being conducted by the University of New Hampshire found extremely high levels of nitrate in streams and watersheds.
Plants thrive on nitrate, but when too much is present, it is bad for the ecosystem as a whole. If the nitrate makes its way into the ocean, huge portions of the ecosystem of the coast, even the trees, and plants that live around the island will be hurt and can even be destroyed completely.
Much of the excess nitrate comes from fertilizers and other agricultural equipment. When the hurricanes rip through the island, runoff happens and all of the terrible chemicals from all around wash into the nearest body of water.
This terrible rampage of natural disasters caused by climate change need to be stopped as soon as possible or life on this planet will soon diminish.
Sources for all information above:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/12/181210115759.htm
https://www.edf.org/climate/how-climate-change-makes-hurricanes-more-destructive
Hurricane Maria GIF Original Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDgob-vR2Hg
*The red in the center means greater intensity than the outer parts.