Reducing Errors In Hurricane Forecasting A Costly Fix

MIAMI (AP) - The National Hurricane Center's director says it
could take tens of millions of dollars, if not more, for research
and between five and 10 years if officials want to substantially
reduce errors in forecasting the intensity of hurricanes.

In an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday, Bill Read
said reducing by half the errors made in determining
intensity would be a costly and long-term effort.

Intensity forecasts are much harder for meteorologist than track
predictions.

Read also talked about the sensitive issue of a link between
global warming and hurricanes. Read acknowledged that while people
who model storms largely suggest global warming is real and going
to get worse, they differ on the possible outcomes for hurricanes.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)