The cost of hurricanes Katrina and Rita is immense: More than 1,000 people have died, millions are displaced and rebuilding New Orleans and the Gulf Coast will require an estimated $200 billion.

But future storms, fueled by the effects of global warming, may exact an even greater price.

Rising sea temperatures linked to global warming are increasing the intensity and duration of hurricanes, according to a study published in the scientific journal Nature.

MIT meteorology professor Kerry Emanuel conducted the study. He says the amount of energy hurricanes consume has gone up by "70 to 80 percent since the 1970s."

A hurricane draws its energy from moist, warm air over the tropical ocean. It eventually releases this energy in the form of condensation.

This generates the powerful winds and tremendous rainfall of a hurricane. The process begins with sea temperature. Warmer waters produce more fuel for the storm.

A recent study appearing in the journal Science echoes Professor Emanuel's findings.

It shows that the number of category 4 and 5 hurricanes worldwide has nearly doubled in the last 35 years.

The behavior of hurricanes Katrina and Rita is consistent with the effects of climate change, but it's a tenuous link.

Scientists need more time to prove their theories, and skeptics maintain that recent phenomena are the result of normal weather variation. Only time will tell.

There is little disagreement in Europe, however, where global warming is widely accepted.

The front page of The Independent, a British newspaper, screamed "This is global warming" above a disturbing graphic of Hurricane Rita's projected path. And many there voiced their opinion that U.S. environmental policies are partially to blame for the storms.

That attitude is premature and unfair, but this tragedy should be a wake up call.

We need to have a meaningful debate on climate change.

This is an opportunity to consider measures that address the possible effects of climate change and the prospect of more violent storms.

We may have to reevaluate our position on unpopular initiatives, like the Kyoto Protocol, that curb greenhouse gas emissions. And we might want to reconsider putting so many human and economic assets in harm's way along the Gulf Coast.

Unfortunately, the Bush administration seems content to all but ignore this issue, treating it with hostile contempt.

Let's hope the government changes its stance before another disaster strikes.

--Alex Duncan is an economics junior. His column appears every other Tuesday, and he can be reached at dailyopinion@ou.edu.
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