An Excerpt from: “Cyclones and Climate Change: Connecting the Dots”

Question

By Agence France-Presse, adapted by the Newsela staff

Scientists say the don’t know everything about how climate change affects hurricanes. But, what they do know is enough to worry them.

Burning fossil fuels creates greenhouse gasses. Fossil fuels are natural fuels like oil, gas, and wood. The gasses, in turn, cause the Earth’s temperature to rise. It is called climate change. Scientists say the magnifying effect of sea level rise, warming oceans, and hotter air is simple science. All are results of climate change. They also have seen faster shifts in storms’ power, such as Hurricane Harvey in Texas. A sudden change turned Harvey from a Category 2 hurricane to a Category 5, on a scale of 5.

Detailed Data on Hurricanes is Missing

What’s missing is a detailed record of past hurricanes. Climate scientists need decades of measurements. This would help them determine how much people have played a part in global warming.

“It is awfully difficult to see climate change in historical data so far because hurricanes are fairly rare,” Kerry Emanuel said. He is a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Experts agree that climate change could make tropical storms more powerful. The storms are known around the world as cyclones, hurricanes, and typhoons. But, scientists are puzzled, for now, by a lack of information.

Just because the information is not clear yet doesn’t mean that the changes haven’t been occurring, said James Kossin. He is a scientist at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Center for Weather and Climate in Madison, Wisconsin. Kossin figured out that cyclones have been drifting toward the north and south poles. Other hurricane experts call it the clearest sign so far that climate change has already had an effect. Hurricanes form where the ocean is warm. This is usually near the equator. But, climate change is heating up other parts of the ocean. This is why cyclones are drifting toward areas in the north and south poles that weren’t warm before.

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Part 1: What is the central idea of this article?(1 point)
Responses

Hurricanes and cyclones are occurring closer to the north and south poles.
Hurricanes and cyclones are occurring closer to the north and south poles.

Scientists have a lot of information and data about hurricanes
Scientists have a lot of information and data about hurricanes

Greenhouse gases are bad for the environment
Greenhouse gases are bad for the environment

Scientists are concerned that climate change may make tropical storms, like cyclones and hurricanes, more powerful
Scientists are concerned that climate change may make tropical storms, like cyclones and hurricanes, more powerful
Question 2
Part 2: Which detail from the text best supports the central idea?(1 point)
Responses

Scientists say the magnifying effect of sea level rise, warming oceans and hotter air is simple science. All are results of climate change. They also have seen faster shifts in storms' power, such as Hurricane Harvey in Texas.
Scientists say the magnifying effect of sea level rise, warming oceans and hotter air is simple science. All are results of climate change. They also have seen faster shifts in storms' power, such as Hurricane Harvey in Texas.

Burning fossil fuels creates greenhouse gases. Fossil fuels are natural fuels like oil, gas and wood.
Burning fossil fuels creates greenhouse gases. Fossil fuels are natural fuels like oil, gas and wood.

"It is awfully difficult to see climate change in historical data so far because hurricanes are fairly rare," Kerry Emanuel said. He is a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
"It is awfully difficult to see climate change in historical data so far because hurricanes are fairly rare," Kerry Emanuel said. He is a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

What's missing is a detailed record of past hurricanes. Climate scientists need decades of measurements.
What's missing is a detailed record of past hurricanes. Climate scientists need decades of measurements.
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Answer 1

Part 1: What is the central idea of this article?

Response: Scientists are concerned that climate change may make tropical storms, like cyclones and hurricanes, more powerful.

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Part 2: Which detail from the text best supports the central idea?

Response: Scientists say the magnifying effect of sea level rise, warming oceans and hotter air is simple science. All are results of climate change. They also have seen faster shifts in storms' power, such as Hurricane Harvey in Texas.