Physics and Future of Hurricanes

This monograph discusses hurricanes, prompted by a discovery that suggests they will become more powerful with global warming. It provides a basic understanding of hurricanes, emphasizing the flow of energy into and out of these storms. The text is centered on a new discovery that is not in any existing textbook, and the role of phase change in understanding hurricanes brings in the 20th-century discoveries in theoretical physics relating to critical phenomena.

Format: Hardback
Length: 100 pages
Publication date: 28 April 2023
Publisher: Jenny Stanford Publishing

This comprehensive monograph delves into the intricate world of hurricanes, driven by a groundbreaking discovery that suggests their potential for increased power with global warming. Presented at a college physics level, it offers a fundamental understanding of hurricanes, focusing on the flow of energy into and out of these powerful storms. As a textbook, it covers various topics that may be taught in meteorology or atmospheric physics courses.

At the heart of this text lies a novel discovery that has yet to be found in any existing textbook. This groundbreaking revelation has immediate implications for all meteorologists, as it sheds light on hurricanes in a completely new way. The new perspective treats hurricanes as a distinct phase of matter, exhibiting characteristic temperature dependencies near their transitions. This revelation draws upon the 20th-century discoveries in theoretical physics related to critical phenomena, where the critical exponent β enters the formula P = const (T – Tc)β. P represents a characteristic strength parameter or order parameter of the phase of matter appearing at Tc.

According to the groundbreaking discovery on hurricanes, when considering the wind velocity as the order parameter P, the critical exponent is remarkably close to 1/3. However, a second remarkable discovery reveals that a slight correction to this value is brought about by the intricate physics of the renormalization group, which earned K. G. Wilson the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1982.

This monograph not only provides a deep understanding of hurricanes but also highlights the interplay between theoretical physics and meteorology. It sheds light on the critical role of phase change in comprehending these colossal storms and emphasizes the significance of the renormalization group in refining our understanding of their behavior. By exploring the complexities of hurricanes through the lens of physics, this book offers valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities posed by climate change in the realm of meteorology.

Weight: 308g
Dimension: 156 x 236 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789814968546