Allison Wing, researcher at FSU, was part of an international team studying the origin of tropical cyclones. They found an infrared radiative feedback from clouds that accelerates storm development. This finding will help improve scientists’ understanding and prediction of future storms.

“Our results say this cloud radiative feedback is important for tropical cyclone development,” Wing said. “We know weather and climate models sometimes have a hard time simulating clouds correctly.” This research may aid in hurricane forecast model improvement and understanding of how the greenhouse effect warms the atmosphere of a developing storm.

• Allison Wing