Their goal was to use mathematical models and historic data to better predict hurricane formation and path.
This wind shear can interfere with hurricane formation.
But existing wind patterns could combine to reduce wind shear over the Atlantic, thereby encouraging hurricane formation.
On the other hand, hurricane formation was greatly diminished from 1968 to 1994, which for some reason coincides with the great Sahel drought.
In addition to reducing visibilities and causing respiratory problems, sand clouds suppress hurricane formation by modifying the solar radiation balance of the tropics.
Maps created from this equation show regions where tropical storm and hurricane formation is possible, based upon the thermodynamics of the atmosphere at the time of the last model run (either 0000 or 1200 UTC).
A long-running Sahel drought beginning in 1970 suppressed hurricane formation in all but three years, according to the Colorado analysis.
It was a classic hurricane formation, that narrow girdle of higher pressure that demarcated the outer fringe of the great revolving spiral of tormented air.
I know a number of hurricane monitoring and modelling bodies are reassessing their ideas on hurricane formation and intensification because of these two years.
Higher sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean, which are conducive to hurricane formation, are also expected this year.