[originaltext] A new study predicts that warmer waters in the Atlantic Ocean

A new study predicts that warmer waters in the Atlantic Ocean will continue to increase the number of major hurricanes. Researchers say each hurricane season is likely to produce five to eight major hurricanes by 2100. In 2017, six major hurricanes formed in the Atlantic. Three of them—Harvey, Irma and Maria—made landfall. The storms hit parts of the United States and Caribbean, causing loss of life and an estimated $265 billion in damages.
    The new study used a computer modeling system to simulate different climate conditions. Researchers say they were able to correctly predict the active hurricane season in June 2017. Additional experiments showed that the main driver of the 2017 hurricane activity was a much warmer Atlantic Ocean. Hiroyuki Murakami was a lead researcher on the study. He is also a climate scientist and hurricane expert. He told the Associated Press his team found that a combination of natural conditions and man-made climate change are making Atlantic Ocean waters warmer. Man-made causes included the burning of coal, oil and gas. Warm water is important because it acts as a fuel for hurricanes. Water has to be at least 26℃ for a storm to form. The warmer the water, the more a hurricane can resist forces that would cause it to weaken.
    The Atlantic is predicted to warm faster than the rest of the world’s oceans. This is why the study estimates that the number of major storms will probably increase by two or more on average. And warm water is especially affecting one important area, Murakami said. This box-shaped area includes a large territory south of Florida and north of South America, extending all the way east to Africa. Some of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes form off the coast of West Africa, before heading west toward the Caribbean and the US East Coast. Ocean water in this box-shaped area averaged 0. 4 t warmer than normal throughout the 2017 season. Murakami said the temperature was very unusual for a six-month time period.
    Some outside experts had issues with parts of Murakami’s study. Brian McNoldy is a hurricane researcher at the University of Miami. He told the Associated Press it makes sense that unusually warm water caused the extra hurricane activity in 2017. But he was not willing to completely blame climate change. Kevin Trenberth is with the National Center for Atmospheric Research. He took issue with the fact that the study did not include research on large increases in ocean heat in deeper ocean areas. Trenberth said this can also be caused by climate change.
    Questions 23 to 25 are based on the recording you have just heard.
    23. What will happen to the Atlantic Ocean according to the new study?
    24. What does the speaker say about the Atlantic?
    25. What do we learn about Murakami’s study?