Kerry Emanuel
Encyclopedia
Kerry Emanuel is an American
professor of meteorology
currently working at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
in Cambridge
. In particular he has specialized in atmospheric convection
and the mechanisms acting to intensify hurricane
s. He coined the term "hypercane
" in 1994. In 2007, he was elected as a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences.
He was named one of the Time 100
influential people of 2006.
In a March 2008 paper published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society
, he announced he is rethinking his previous conclusion that global warming increases the threat of more hurricane activity than normal. Gabriel Vecchi, of NOAA said of Emanuel's announcement, "While his results don't rule out the possibility that global warming has contributed to the recent increase in activity in the Atlantic, they suggest that other factors—possibly in addition to global warming—are likely to have been substantial contributors to the observed increase in activity."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professor of meteorology
Meteorology
Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the 18th century. The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across several countries...
currently working at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
in Cambridge
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
. In particular he has specialized in atmospheric convection
Convection
Convection is the movement of molecules within fluids and rheids. It cannot take place in solids, since neither bulk current flows nor significant diffusion can take place in solids....
and the mechanisms acting to intensify hurricane
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
s. He coined the term "hypercane
Hypercane
A hypercane is a hypothetical class of extreme hurricane that could form if ocean temperatures reached around , which is warmer than the warmest ocean temperature ever recorded. Such an increase could be caused by a large asteroid or comet impact, a large volcanic, supervolcanic eruption, or very...
" in 1994. In 2007, he was elected as a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences.
He was named one of the Time 100
Time 100
Time 100 is an annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world, as assembled by Time. First published in 1999 as a result of a debate among several academics, the list has become an annual event.-History and format:...
influential people of 2006.
In a March 2008 paper published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society
Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society
The Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society is a scientific journal published by the American Meteorological Society.The official organ of the society, it is devoted to editorials, topical reports to members, articles, professional and membership news, conference announcements, programs and...
, he announced he is rethinking his previous conclusion that global warming increases the threat of more hurricane activity than normal. Gabriel Vecchi, of NOAA said of Emanuel's announcement, "While his results don't rule out the possibility that global warming has contributed to the recent increase in activity in the Atlantic, they suggest that other factors—possibly in addition to global warming—are likely to have been substantial contributors to the observed increase in activity."
Selected publications
- Emanuel, K.A.(1994): Atmospheric Convection, Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-506630-8
- Emanuel, K.A.(2005): Divine Wind: The History And Science Of Hurricanes, ISBN 0-19-514941-6
- Emanuel, K.A.(2005): [ftp://texmex.mit.edu/pub/emanuel/PAPERS/NATURE03906.pdf "Increasing destructiveness of tropical cyclones over the past 30 years"]. NatureNature (journal)Nature, first published on 4 November 1869, is ranked the world's most cited interdisciplinary scientific journal by the Science Edition of the 2010 Journal Citation Reports...
- Emanuel, K.A.(2007): Phaeton’s Reins - The human hand in climate change. Boston ReviewBoston ReviewBoston Review is a bimonthly American political and literary magazine. The magazine covers, specifically, political debates, literature, and poetry...
. - Emanuel, K.A.(2007): What We Know About Climate Change, The MIT Press & Boston Review. ISBN 978-0-262-05089-0
- Emanuel, K.A.(2008): [ftp://texmex.mit.edu/pub/emanuel/PAPERS/Emanuel_etal_2008.pdf "Hurricanes and Global Warming: Results from Downscaling IPCC AR4 Simulations"]. Bulletin of the American Meteorological SocietyBulletin of the American Meteorological SocietyThe Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society is a scientific journal published by the American Meteorological Society.The official organ of the society, it is devoted to editorials, topical reports to members, articles, professional and membership news, conference announcements, programs and...
External links
- Emanuel's website
- Brian Tang and Kerry Emanuel (2010): "Mid-level ventilation's constraint on tropical cyclone intensity". Journal of the Atmospheric SciencesJournal of the Atmospheric SciencesThe Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences is a scientific journal published by the American Meteorological Society...
.