The heating rate is higher than the global average! Why do extreme weather frequently hit Asia?, Statistics of high temperature, drought, rainstorm and flood in turn | warming | global
On July 27th, the World Meteorological Organization released the "2022 Asian Climate Status" report, which pointed out that Asia's warming rate is higher than the global average, with alternating floods and droughts, causing serious economic losses and environmental disasters.
At the same time of the release of the report, high temperature, rainstorm and drought are taking turns on the vast Asian land
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A statistics released by the South Korean fire department on August 2nd showed that from May 20th to August 1st, the sustained high temperatures in South Korea this summer have resulted in 23 deaths. According to Yonhap News Agency, from July 29th to 30th alone, at least 15 people in South Korea died from heatstroke.
Starting from the end of July, many regions in South Korea have issued high temperature warnings. By last weekend, multiple cities had reported the highest temperatures since the beginning of this year. On August 1st at 18:00, the South Korean Ministry of Administrative Security raised the high temperature warning level from the previous "alert" level to "serious" level. The last time South Korea raised the high temperature warning level to "serious" level was in 2019.
The high temperature situation in Japan is not to be underestimated. According to data released by the Fire Department of the Japanese Ministry of General Affairs, the number of people admitted to hospitals due to heatstroke in Japan during the week ending July 30th was 11765, which is 1.8 times higher than the same period last year. The number of deaths from heatstroke that week was 18.
According to data released by the Japan Meteorological Agency on August 1st, the national average temperature in July was 1.91 degrees Celsius higher than previous benchmark values, marking the highest temperature increase since statistics began in 1898.
On the 1st, a spokesperson for the Iranian government stated that due to the upcoming rare high temperature weather, Iran has declared August 2nd and 3rd as national public holidays, and government offices, banks and other facilities will be temporarily suspended. It is also recommended that elderly people and children stay at home as much as possible to prevent heatstroke.
In South Asia and Southeast Asia, record breaking high temperatures have continued from April this year until now. The highest temperature in many Southeast Asian countries such as Myanmar and Thailand exceeds 40 degrees Celsius; According to a report by The Times of India in July, the highest temperature in parts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in India reached 46 degrees Celsius, and the heatwave has caused about 170 deaths.
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Against the backdrop of intensified climate change, extreme weather and climate events are becoming more frequent and intense. There is research indicating that climate change is changing the monsoon pattern and precipitation patterns in Asia, including rainfall and timing.
Starting from last week, Typhoon Dussuri, a super typhoon that formed in the ocean east of the Philippines, has been heading northwest. In the Philippines, Dussuri has caused at least 26 deaths, with over 2.45 million people affected and hundreds of towns in a state of disaster.
Just as the impact of "Dussuri" had just ended, another super typhoon "Kanu" had already made landfall in Okinawa, Japan. According to Japanese media reports, Typhoon Kanu has caused 2 deaths and 60 injuries in Okinawa Prefecture. In addition, the typhoon caused power outages for about 30% of residents in Okinawa, poor mobile phone signals in some areas, and widespread flight and ferry suspensions.
The Japan Meteorological Agency has warned that the heavy rainfall caused by Typhoon Kanu may lead to a surge in seawater levels, and low-lying coastal and estuary areas may be submerged.
In fact, many Asian countries had already suffered from rainstorm and floods this summer before the arrival of these two typhoons.
Since the beginning of July, South Korea has been suffering from the continuous "scouring" of rainstorm. This round of heavy rainfall has caused temporary relocation of tens of thousands of people in 111 cities, counties, and districts across 15 cities in South Korea. According to data released by the Central Disaster Safety Countermeasure Headquarters of South Korea on July 25th, as of 6:00 am local time on the same day, continuous heavy rainfall has caused 47 deaths, 3 people are missing, and nearly 20000 people have been temporarily evacuated for safety.
In South Asia, Pakistan and India have been hit by rainstorm recently. The National Disaster Management Agency of Pakistan released a report on July 29th, stating that since June 25th, floods caused by heavy rainfall have caused at least 173 deaths and 260 injuries in the country. According to Indian media reports on the same day, as of that day, heavy rainfall and flooding in the central Indian state of Trengana have caused 23 deaths.
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According to data from the Belgian Emergency Disaster Database, the total number of flood events in Asia has increased from 303 in 1970-1980 to 1541 in 2011-2020. During the same period, the total number of drought events increased from 85 to 152. Climate warming not only exacerbates heavy rainfall, but also exacerbates drought in some areas.
The World Meteorological Organization released a report on the 2022 Asian Climate Status on July 27, warning that Asia's warming rate is higher than the global average, and the warming trend in Asia from 1991 to 2022 is almost twice that of 1961 to 1990.
The report shows that the average temperature in Asia in 2022 is about 0.72 degrees Celsius higher than the average temperature from 1991 to 2020, and the average temperature in Asia from 1991 to 2020 is about 1.68 degrees Celsius higher than the average temperature during the International Meteorological Organization's climate change reference period from 1961 to 1990.
The report states that in 2022, there were 81 weather, climate, and water related disasters in Asia, of which 83% were floods and storm events, resulting in over 5000 deaths and over 50 million people directly affected, with economic losses exceeding 36 billion US dollars. In addition, many regions in Asia have also experienced more severe droughts than usual.
The report predicts that the frequency and severity of extreme weather events in most parts of Asia will continue to increase, posing a threat to the economic and social development of Asia, especially agricultural production.
In fact, the high temperatures that have persisted since April this year have threatened the growth of major Southeast Asian crops and cash crops such as palm oil, rice, and coffee beans. According to data analysis, rice production in almost all regions of Southeast Asia will be reduced due to high temperatures and drought, and winter rice production is particularly dangerous.
Taking Thailand as an example, according to professional institutions, the country's rice production may decrease by 6% this year, and sugar and rubber production will also be affected. The comprehensive agricultural economic losses in Thailand this year may exceed 60 billion baht.
In addition, according to media statistics, in recent months, countries in South and Southeast Asia such as Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the Philippines, India, and Thailand have been forced to take various power rationing measures due to the heatwave, which has had an impact on the rapidly developing manufacturing industry in the region.
