Does a big storm dissipate heat

[pscot]

or just redistribute it?

[caraher]

1. What would you consider the difference to be?

I'm not sure I understand the question...

[pscot]

2. I'm thinking in terms of global warming

Ocean heat fuels these large storms. Does a hurricane cause heat to dissipate into space or does it just re distribute heat within the system? Is there a net cooling effect on the planet?

[caraher]

3. In that case, I'd say it just redistributes energy

The only physical mechanisms of heat transfer that applies to the energy balance between Earth and its surroundings (space) is radiation. Radiation really just depends on the temperature of the radiating body, and this storm doesn't make any real difference to Earth's temperature.

[sir pball]

4. It doesn't remove energy from the planet, but it does cool it a little.

Storms convert heat energy to other forms, mostly wind - the total energy contained in the system doesn't change, but the temperature does decrease. A tiny bit. Not enough to affect global warming, though.