'Canes: Stronger And More Of Them

Scientists Say Cycle Should Continue For Years, Due To Several Factors

(CBS)  Why? Bell says hurricane cycles are primarily driven by rainfall patterns in Africa and the Amazon basin.

"Those rainfall patterns tend to last for 20 to 30 years at a time," he explains, "and as a result, so do the wind and air pressure patterns over the Atlantic that control hurricane activity."

There are other factors as well, such as warm water, which hurricanes feed off.

Sea surface temperatures have risen, Pinkston notes, but scientists point out that ocean temperatures go through cycles as well, and that we're in a warm cycle.

Still, many in the field believe global warming may be at least a contributing factor in increased water temperatures.

"The water temperature is quite essential to the strength of a hurricane, and it only takes 2 to 4 degrees Fahrenheit to be the difference, to being able to support a Category 3 hurricane and a Category 5 hurricane," says Michael Schlacter, a meteorologist with Weather 2000. "So (whether) it's global warming, the cycles, or just a hot summer, those little bits of increase in temperature can mean a big difference in how severe the storms are."

How concerned should people be who live in an area that's susceptible to hurricanes?

"I would be very concerned," Schlacter warns. "As far as Americans love being near the beach, and as far as we have severe weather that's constantly threatening these coastlines, it's kind of a teeter-totter that we're going to be living with for some time."