Most scientists specializing in hurricane studies work primarily to increase their physical understanding of the dynamics and thermodynamics of hurricanes and to improve the ability of meteorologists to forecast a storm’s track and intensity. Until recently, only a few of them were involved in research related to climate change, but over the past few years, the topic has received a great deal more attention. Interest in it has been piqued by an increase in North Atlantic hurricane activity.
James P. Kossin is a research scientist specializing in hurricane studies and tropical meteorology at the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.