Dear Tom,
Is there any meteorological explanation for all the violent weather occurring around the world — cyclones, earthquakes, tornadoes, etc.?
— Barbara Hampton, Chicago
Dear Barbara,
Increases in reported severe weather occurrences result from larger populations in weather-vulnerable areas and better communication of the events, rather than greater frequency.
Consider the U.S. Gulf Coast. Prior to the 1950s, it was sparsely populated, and hurricanes often struck between population centers.
Also, some phenomena (such as volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis) are geological events, not meteorological. Their occurrence is independent of the atmosphere and the weather. The U.S. Geological Survey says the frequency of huge earthquakes (magnitude-7.0 or greater) has remained fairly constant.
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