Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Ice-age hurricanes and tropical storms

Nature volume 333, pages 243–245 (1988)Cite this article

Abstract

We compare Pleistocene tropical cyclones with present-day storms in this study through the use of a three-dimensional numerical model simulating hurricane development and processes1. The characteristics of Atlantic ice-age tropical storms are derived from reconstructions of the 18,000 BP climate (the Last Glacial Maximum or LGM) and the GISS (Goddard Institute of Space Studies) General Circulation Model's LGM simulation2,3. The simulation results indicate that although the structure of the ice-age atmosphere was colder and more stable, it had the potential to support development of tropical cyclones. Such storms, however, would be substantially weaker than contemporary storms. This investigation demonstrates the value of integrating numerical models of varying spatial scales in climatic research.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hobgood, J. S. J. atmos. Sci. 43, 2901–2922 (1986).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Hansen, J. et al. in Climate Processes and Climate Sensitivity (eds Hansen, J. E. & Takashashi, T.) 130–163 (American Geophysical Union, Washington, 1984).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Hansen, J. et al. Mon. Weath. Rev. 111, 609–662 (1983).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Van der Hammen, T., Barelds, J., De Jong, H. & De Veer, A. A. Paleogoeogr. Paleoclimatol. Paleoecol. 32, 247–340 (1981).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Felder, W., Hayden, B. & Dolan, R. J. Geol. 83, 455–461 (1979).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. Imbrie, J. & Kipp, N. G. The Late Cenozoic Glacial Ages (ed. Turekian, K. K.) (Yale University Press, New Haven, 1971).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Marsaglia, K. M. & Klein, G. D. J. Geol. 91, 117–142 (1983).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. Alford, J. J. & Holmes, J. C. Ann. Assoc. Amer. Geog. 73, 395–403 (1985).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Bonatti, E. & Gartner, S. Nature 224, 563–565 (1973).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. Wright, H. E. Q. Res. 15, 113–125 (1981).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. Watts, W. A. Geology 3, 344–346 (1975).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. Wendland, W. M. J. appl. Met. 16, 477–481 (1977).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Shackleton, N. J., Hall, M. A., Line, J. & Shuxi, C. Nature 306, 319–322 (1983).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Dansgaard, W. & Tauber, H. Science 166, 499–502 (1969).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Lynts, G. W. & Judd, J. B. Science 171, 1153–1144 (1971).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. Emiliani, C. Science 178, 393–401 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. CLIMAP project members Science 191, 1131–1137 (1976).

  18. CLIMAP project members Seasonal Reconstruction of the Earth's Surface at the Last Glacial Maximum (Geological Society of America, Map & Chart Series MC-36, 1981).

  19. Phillips, N. A. J. Met. 14, 184–185 (1957).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Anthes, R. A. Mon. Weath. Rev. 100, 461–476 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  21. Matsuno, T. J. Met. Soc. Japan 44, 76–84 (1966).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Kuo, H. L. J. atmos. Sci. 22, 40–63 (1974).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. Anthes, R. A. Mon. Weath. Rev. 105, 270–286 (1977).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  24. Berger, A. L. J. atmos. Sci. 35, 2362–2367 (1978).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  25. Kutzbach, J. E. & Guetter, P. J. J. atmos. Sci. 43, 1726–1759 (1986).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  26. Berger, A. L., Imbrie, J., Hays, J., Kukla, G. & Saltzman, B. Milankovitch and Climate (Reidel, Dordrecht, 1984).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  27. Browner, S. P., Woodley, W. L. & Griffith, C. G. Mon. Weath. Rev. 105, 856–864 (1977).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  28. Herbert, P. J. & Jordan, B. R. Mon. Weath. Rev. 87, 217–221 (1959).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Atmospheric Sciences, Department of Geography, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, 43210–1361, USA

    Jay S. Hobgood

  2. Department of Geography, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, 85287–0104, USA

    Randall S. Cerveny

Authors
  1. Jay S. Hobgood
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Randall S. Cerveny
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hobgood, J., Cerveny, R. Ice-age hurricanes and tropical storms. Nature 333, 243–245 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/333243a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/333243a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing