Number of cyclones not increasing, but intensity is, data shows

PARIS: The number of tropical cyclones each year has not risen over the past four decades but their intensity has, according to international databases analysed by AFP that confirms the projections of climatologists.

Since 1980 there have been an annual average of 47 tropical cyclones -- also called hurricanes and typhoons -- according to the database agencies recognised by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and coordinated by the US Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

While that annual frequency has remained relatively constant, the intensity of the cyclones has increased between the 30 years from 1981 to 2010 and the last decade.

Their average maximum speed wind speed has increased to 192 from 182-kms per hour (119 from 113 miles per hour) -- a five percent increase.

Between 1981 and 2010, around one in 10 tropical cyclones surpassed 250 kph, but that figure has increased to 1.4 in 10 in the last decade.

That is a 40 percent increase in the number of the most devastating, category five cyclones on the Saffir-Simpson scale.