Tropical cyclones increased infant mortality by an average of 11% across seven low- and middle-income countries between 2002 and 2021. The risk of death was highest during the first year of life after a damaging tropical cyclone — even if it is below hurricane strength. Storm impacts on prenatal care and child growth, an indicator of early-life nutrition, did not account for the rise in infant deaths. The findings underscore the need for improved disaster response and child health protections in cyclone-prone low- and middle-income regions.

A modeling study conducted by MIT researchers shows that global warming will make it harder to reduce ground-level ozone, a respiratory irritant that is a key component of smog, by cutting greenhouse gas emissions.