Introduction
“Vapor Storms” written by Jennifer A. Francis, a senior scientist at the Woodwell climate research center, discusses the extensive effects of increased water vapor in the atmosphere. Francis provides information that links water vapor levels to increased frequency and intensity of disruptive weather such as flood and hurricane storms. A critical study of the article “Vapor Storms” by scientist Francis allows readers to understand how water vapor contributes to global warming and disruptive weather as well as the advantages and disadvantages of the article.
Author Qualification
Francis is a senior scientist at the Woodwell climate research center and has researched Arctic warming, atmospheric vapor, and energy. Moreover, she is a member of the scientific American board of advisers; hence she is a well-recognized author (Francis, 2021a). Being a senior scientist who has done previous research on similar topics, Francis qualifies to write on the topic “Vapor Storms” as her comments would be credible and trusted by readers.
Article Summary
The article focuses on the recent progression of extreme weather conditions witnessed worldwide due to climate change. Francis highlights numerous examples of drastic weather conditions, including floods and their subsequent effects. Some effects of the disruptive weather conditions caused by global warming include deaths, displacement of persons, and destruction of buildings and infrastructure (Francis, 2021a). Francis links disruptive weather conditions to the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere. She mentions that global warming causes more evaporation, faster condensation, and more rain than usual, increasing flooding and hurricanes.
Due to increased water vapor in the atmosphere, Francis mentions that the world might witness vapor storms that cause more rain and snow compared to a few decades ago. The article compares the weather hazards in 2020 and their subsequent progression in 2021, indicating an increase in the intensity of floods and hurricane storms (Francis, 2021a). Increased water vapor traps heat in the lower atmosphere, causing increased temperatures that affect peaceful sleep, killing some plants and insects and allowing some species to flourish. Therefore, Francis seeks to draw readers’ attention to the grave effects of water vapor in worsening global warming.
Critique
Good Science
Francis not only uses a single variable of water vapor to reach her conclusions over the causes of destructive weather. Her research involves the study of various variables, including dust, pollution particles, and atmospheric warming at low and high altitudes (Francis, 2021a). Analysis of multiple variables gives a wholesome conclusion on the cause of vapor storms and a better understanding of factors contributing to global warming. Thus, the article incorporates good science.
How The Article Relates to my Life
Increased water vapor at night causes nighttime heat due to high humidity levels. Nighttime heating has been associated with discomfort and stress on humans, plants, and animals. Intense heat at night can get fatal for the elderly and infants while increasing the risk of exposure to diseases carried by insects that flourish in heat, which in turn becomes a threat to humans, plants, and animals (Francis, 2021a). The effect of increased water vapor in the atmosphere on human health through the onset of some illnesses indicates how the article title affects a reader’s life. Therefore, vapor storms and increased climatic hazards due to increased water vapor have direct and indirect effects on people’s lives.
Effect of Article Topic on the Earth
The article affects the earth as a whole, given the contribution of increased water vapor to global warming. Global warming is a current crisis that requires urgent research and control measures which Francis provides quite an analysis of in the article “Vapor Storms”. Increased water vapor leads to more rapid storms and hurricanes of more intensity as time progresses due to the effects of human activities. Warmer air contains more energy which turns to winds, increasing hurricanes and changes in wind patterns as global warming continues (Francis, 2021b). Therefore, the article suitably explains the impact of water vapor and vapor storms on the earth.
Advantage of the Article
Moreover, since the article uses examples of recent hazards, readers can clearly understand the worsening impacts of global warming and vapor storms that lead to prolonged storms and altered wind speed, making it difficult to forecast hurricane direction or speed (Francis, 2021a). As latent heat rises, the risk of turbulent weather also causes icebergs to melt as seas and oceans increase in water levels. Therefore, Francis gives an educative analysis of the impact of water vapor to readers who may not understand that other factors apart from carbon dioxide and atmospheric aspects like water vapor could increase global warming.
How the Article Could be Improved
However, most of the terminologies used in the article may be difficult for readers not inclined to science and scientific terms. There is a need to use basic explanations or examples to allow common readers to understand and rightfully take preventive measures or educate others. For instance, when Francis explains that vapor is a greenhouse gas that causes nighttime heat, a clearer example would be likening the effect of global warming to adding an extra blanket to the bed (Francis, 2021 b). Therefore, for a simpler understanding of the article, it is important to use simpler examples and terminologies.
Conclusion
Francis gives a detailed analysis of the impact of water vapor on the intensification of disruptive weather. With multiple examples of the progressing impacts of storms, the article raises attention to the impact of water vapor, a greenhouse gas, in influencing the weather and climate apart from the known effects of carbon dioxide. While the article needs to use simpler scientific terms and examples, the article uses various variables to give findings on the role of water vapor in disruptive weather.
References
Francis, J. A. (2021a). Vapor storms. Climate. Illustrated by Ross, M. Scientific American [PDF].
Francis, J. (2021b). Arctic meltdown and unruly tropical storms; are they connected?Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, 53(1), 223-224. Web.