The first hurricane ever reported in the South Atlantic hit southern Brazil in Spring 2004:

• Pezza, Alexandre and Simmonds, Ian. "The First South Atlantic Hurricane: Unprecedented Blocking, Low Shear, and Climate Change." Geophysical Research Letters 32(L15712). 12 August 2005 at www.agu.org/journals/gl/

Pezza et al. suggest that the persistence of the conditions that caused the hurricane can be attributed to climate change. Their analysis showed that the Caterina hurricane (named after Brazil's Saint Caterina State), accumulated its strength as a result of atmospheric anomalies -- an unparalleled combination of wind shear and rare conditions at mid-to-high latitudes -- which themselves are attributed to climate change. The authors conclude by drawing a direct link between South Atlantic hurricanes and climate change.

Implications: The expected persistence of such anomalies under a climate change future is likely to lead to increased intensity and frequency of Southern Atlantic storms. Few South American communities have experience dealing with hurricane intensity storms -- suggesting that considerable effort will be required to minimize community and coastal ecosystem damages.