University of Texas studies show Hurricane Maria's continued impact on Puerto Rico
UT faculty are examining the causes and effects of the 2017 Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico through a series of studies and are calling for better preparation for future storms intensified by climate change in a new report released this May.
The studies, led by Carlos Ramos, a geography and environment associate professor, detail Hurricane Maria’s lasting effects on Puerto Rico and how climate change has intensified tropical storms that require the country to better prepare for stronger future storms.
Ramos, who was born and raised in Puerto Rico, said the first study he and his team conducted found Hurricane Maria produced the greatest amount of rainfall ever recorded in the island’s history, with 25 to 30 inches of rainfall in eight hours. The second study found Maria triggered more than 70,000 landslides, a world record for a tropical storm, he said. The third study found the landslides made by Maria caused sediment to fill the island’s main reservoirs, depleting the island’s access to drinking water, said alumnus Briella Vest, who worked on the study.
Alumnus Caroline Garnett, who worked on the recent study, said streamflow levels identify the volume of water in an area and measure the severity of flooding. Throughout Puerto Rico’s history but especially after Hurricane Maria, streamflow also hit levels similar to world record floods, highlighting the increased intensity of hurricanes, she said.
Read more: https://thedailytexan.com/2021/06/17/ut-studies-show-hurricane-marias-continued-impact-on-puerto-rico/
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