Conflicts of Interest, Funding Support, and Author Affiliation in Peer-Reviewed Research on the Relationship between Climate Change and Geophysical Characteristics of Hurricanes
Conflits d'intérêts, sources de financement et affiliation des auteurs dans les travaux de recherche évalués par des pairs portant sur la relation entre le changement climatique et les caractéristiques géophysiques des ouragans
Weinkle, Jessica ; Glover, Paula ; Philips, Ryan ; Tepper, Wiliam ; Shi, Min ; Resnik, David B.
Année de publication
2026
We analyzed 82 peer-reviewed articles on the relationship between climate change and the geophysical properties of hurricanes published between 1994 and 2023 to determine whether conflicts of interest (COI) disclosures, funding support, or author affiliation are associated with study outcomes or recommendations. There were no associations between COI disclosures and study outcomes or recommendations because none (0) of the 331 authors disclosed COIs. First author having a government affiliation was a significant predictor of making a policy recommendation in the article (odds ratio = 5.44; p value = 0.03). Publication year 2016 or later [odds ratio (OR) = 17.2; p value = 4 × 10?4] and journal impact factor (OR = 1.08; p value = 0.004) were significant predictors of finding a positive association between climate change and geophysical properties of hurricanes. To promote objectivity, transparency, and trust in climate science, journals that publish this research should clearly state that authors must disclose financial and nonfinancial COIs and provide clear processes for doing so. Scientific societies and journals should foster COI disclosure as a norm of professional ethics through policy development, education, and peer modeling. Significance Statement We present a structured examination of author conflicts of interest (COI) disclosures, funding support, and affiliation with study outcomes in the literature on climate change detection and attribution in hurricane geophysical characteristics. Our analysis finds relationships between research outcomes and author affiliations. However, there were no associations between COI disclosures and study outcomes or recommendations because none of the authors disclosed COIs. The finding of no author disclosures of COI contrasts with disclosure rates in other areas of research, publicly accessible information about researchers, and the known industry and political interest in this area of research. Author disclosure is an important tool for minimizing bias and promoting public trust. Scientific societies and journals should foster conflicts of interest disclosure as a norm of professional ethics through policy development, education, and peer modeling.</div>
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