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Rendering: Ethan Gibney, National Hurricane Center, NOAA

A dramatic increase in the frequency and severity of tropical storms affected the Gulf Coast in the decade from 1995 to 2004 compared with the previous ten-year period. Ocean surface temperatures in the most recent period were 1°F to 2°F (0.5°C to 1.1°C) warmer, driving this increase in storm activity.

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