“Everywhere we should see an increase in the intensity of medicines”

Awarded the 12th Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Climate Change, Kerry Emanuel explains in this interview how hurricanes and tropical storms respond to changes in ocean and atmospheric temperature. Drawing on his research in climate modeling and cyclone dynamics, he details why global warming can intensify these extreme events and what the implications are for coastal communities. His insights underscore the importance of understanding the physical mechanisms of climate to anticipate risks and design effective adaptation strategies.

The BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Climate Change has gone in this twelfth edition to American scientist Kerry Emanuel, “for his fundamental contributions to understanding of tropical cyclones and how they are affected by climate change,” according to the committee’s citation.