This prediction, which was publicized in April that year, was predominantly based on the fact that the Atlantic Ocean was warmer than usual at the time. It was therefore very interesting to monitor the storm activity in the tropical Atlantic Ocean during the summer and fall of 1997. In sum this gives seven tropical storms in the Atlantic Ocean, whereof three hurricanes - this is considerably fewer than Gray's prediction. Occurrences of El Nino are nevertheless of interest for the research on anthropogenic climate change because the air-sea exchange of CO 2 is partially determined by the ocean temperature. It is important to realize that no such link has been established for the present day climate.
Frightening scenarios associated with global climate change are popular matter in the media.
The threat of global anthropogenic climate change is a serious problem that our global society confronts today, but one must also be aware of the fact that there is a large natural variability in weather and climate. In general one should therefore be cautious in asserting connections between this type of event and global climate change.