Eric Berger: "In other words, cold air is in some sense allowing Sandy to strengthen."

Are hurricanes hitting New York in October a sure sign of global warming? | SciGuy | a Chron.com blog

Perhaps these temperatures are a fraction of a degree warmer due to climate change, and perhaps not. North Atlantic sea surface temperatures have generally been above normal since 1995 due to a natural feature called the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation.

Moreover the recent strengthening of Hurricane Sandy is attributable, in large measure, to baroclinic forcing. This is a technical term that represents the collision of very warm air (Sandy) with very cold air (a strong cold front moving southeast from Canada). The collision of these air masses is providing energy to Sandy.

In other words, cold air is in some sense allowing Sandy to strengthen. Cold air.