Arab Weather - A new study published in the journal "Nature Climate and Atmospheric Science" showed that climate change resulting from human activity will lead to an increase in the size of hailstones, which will increase the damage caused by severe thunderstorms. The study explained that hail, although it will become less common in the future due to rising temperatures and increased melting, storms containing large hailstones will become more frequent.
According to the researchers, the updrafts in thunderstorms will be strengthened by higher temperatures and humidity, allowing hailstones to stay in the air longer and grow larger. Hailstones are expected to be about four centimeters or larger, roughly the size of a golf ball. These larger hailstones will have a higher final fall velocity, making them less likely to melt as they fall.
The study found that hailstorms associated with severe thunderstorms are among the most costly hazards, exceeding the costs of damage caused by tornadoes and high winds combined. The study’s lead author, Victor Gensini of Northern Illinois University, noted that hail damage has increased significantly over the past decade, especially in areas with more expensive infrastructure.
It is worth noting that future research will continue to try to understand how hail size changes under climate change and how hailstorm predictions can be improved, thus contributing to reducing the damage caused by them.
God knows best.
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