Under the effect of global warming, hurricanes are likely to reach category 6, which does not yet exist in the Saffir-Simpson scale*. The wind would be so violent that it would exceed 300 km/h and produce waves several meters high.
To study the extent of damage from such events, the National Science Foundation has invested 12.8 million USD to build a new experimental facility. It will be capable of producing winds of at least 290 km/h and waves of more than 5.5 meters high. The hangar is expected to be operational before 2026.
The team of scientists who will work on this project is being assembled by the University of Florida.
In recent years, Hurricanes Dorian [4] (2019), Irma [5] (2017) and Haiyan (2013) generated winds in excess of 290 km/h. Some experts classify them as Category 6 hurricanes.
* the Saffir-Simpson scale includes 5 categories. The last step of the scale designates winds above 251km/h and waves of more than 5.5 meters in height without assigning a limit.
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