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Mysterious hurricane in the South Atlantic: Why is Catarina the only one on record?
Just like its name, hurricanes in the South Atlantic are full of mystery and rarity. Although tropical cyclones are widespread around the world, they are rare in the South Atlantic. In 2004, the appearance of Hurricane Catarina not only shocked Brazil, but also triggered heated discussions in the meteorological community. Due to the special climatic conditions of the South Atlantic, including strong wind shear and low water temperatures, these factors have basically suppressed the formation of hurricanes here, making Catarina the only official record in the region. Does this mean that the South Atlantic will usher in similar storms again?
Conditions for the formation of South Atlantic hurricanes
In the South Atlantic, conditions for hurricane formation are very demanding. Specifically, strong vertical wind shear and a lack of suitable tropical disturbances make strong tropical systems extremely rare here. According to observations by meteorologists, tropical storm activity generally reaches its peak from November to May of the following year, but despite this, it is still difficult to form a real hurricane during this period.
In March 2004, the extratropical cyclone officially transformed into a tropical cyclone and struck the southern part of Brazil, becoming the only South Atlantic hurricane record in history.
Catarina’s influence
The formation of Hurricane Catarina and its impact on southern Brazil became a focus. When Catarina hit the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina on March 28, 2004 with winds of 195 kilometers per hour, the storm killed between 3 and 11 people and caused millions of dollars in damage. Local residents were completely surprised by the arrival of the storm because until then, they had never imagined that a true tropical cyclone would appear in the South Atlantic.
Some meteorologists believe that Catarina's appearance is a once-in-a-century event.
Will the South Atlantic hurricane return?
After Catrina, the possibility of another hurricane in and around the South Atlantic has been a focus for meteorologists. It is worth noting that a tropical storm called Anita occurred in this region in 2010, which to a certain extent triggered people to rethink tropical cyclones in the South Atlantic. Since 2011, hurricanes in the South Atlantic have been named and officially monitored when environmental conditions are suitable, according to records from the Brazilian Naval Hydrographic Center, allowing the meteorological community to keep an open mind about the occurrence of similar events in the region in the future.
Summary
Although hurricanes in the South Atlantic are something of an unsolved mystery, Catarina's solitary status is a reminder of the unpredictability of nature. As climate change becomes more of a concern, the pressing question of whether the region will see another tropical cyclone remains unanswered.
Today, with the continuous advancement of science and technology, can we solve the mystery of hurricanes in the South Atlantic and meet more challenges in the ocean?
