HOW IT WORKS

Simulations suggest that wind farms could slow the speed of hurricanes.

1 A giant wind farm, made up of tens of thousands of turbines, is constructed across one of the paths favoured by hurricanes in the tropical Atlantic or Gulf of Mexico.

2 As the hurricane approaches the wind farm, the spinning turbine blades hinder and slow down the rotating winds in the outer parts of the storm. This reduces the height of the sea waves beneath the outer parts of the storm, which slows the movement of air towards the centre of the hurricane.

3 This results in a rise in atmospheric pressure at the centre of the hurricane, reducing the pressure differential across the storm, slowing wind speeds throughout and dissipating the hurricane faster.

4 As a bonus, the wind turbines generate enormous amounts of low-carbon energy.