Weather patterns vary as the climate varies. The Earth periodically undergoes minor climatic cycle changes that bring cooler or warmer than usual weather to different parts of the globe. These cycles usually occur about every 100 years or so, and it appears that we are in the midst of such a change now, although this is as yet unproved.

Over longer periods of time - geologic time - the Earth will have major climate shifts cause by its angle of tilt towards the sun and migration of the magnetic poles. These produce drastic changes in the environment such as Ice Ages or melting of the ice sheets in Antarctica and flooding of coastal areas.

We do know that hurricanes are currently in a phase of increased frequency and strength, due to a small warming of the sea temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. Why this warm-up has occurred is seen by some as part of a repeating cycle of 20-25 years duration, while other blame it on global warming. Truth be known, nobody knows.

The issue and existence of global warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions and population growth is an unknown factor in the weather patterns. Some scientists believe that global warming is a threat to the planet while others dismiss that as nonsense. Absent detailed proof, the effect of global warming or even its independent existence as a human-produce phenomenon, remains an open and hotly debated question.

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