According to a study published in the journal Climate and Atmospheric Science in July 2024, the frequency of typhoons is increasing in Southeast Asia due to rising global temperatures.
Typhoon:
It is a type of cyclone in which the wind speed is 119 kmph or more and it develops in the warm sea water near the equator.
When warm and humid air rises above the surface of the sea, it creates a low-pressure area.
Cyclonic conditions are caused by the rapid inward circulation of air around a low-pressure area.
The wind blows counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere.
The type of cyclone:
Typhoon- China Sea and Pacific Ocean
Hurricane- Western Indian Islands, Caribbean Sea, Atlantic Ocean
Tornado- Western Africa Guinea Region, South America
Willy-Willies- Northwest Australia
Tropical Cyclone- Indian Ocean Region
Recent Typhoons in Southeast Asia:
Typhoon Yagi:
It is Asia’s most powerful tropical cyclone as of September 2024 and the second most powerful globally after Hurricane Beryl (Atlantic Ocean).
It caused considerable damage in South-East Asia, affecting the Philippines, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and especially Vietnam.
Typhoon Shanshan:
It brought heavy rain and strong winds to Japan.
Typhoon Bebinca:
The maximum sustained wind speed near its eye was 151 km / h (94 mph) and it became a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
Reasons for Typhoons to Successively Hit Southeast Asia:
Increase in sea surface temperature:
Due to global warming, the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean provide more energy for the formation and intensification of typhoons.
Warm and humid sea air is the ideal condition for tropical cyclones and the frequency and intensity of storms increase due to rising sea surface temperatures.
Changes in the atmospheric circulation pattern:
Changes in atmospheric circulation patterns, such as the weakening or alteration of the Walker circulation (which affects the Pacific Ocean), can affect the frequency and trajectory of storms in Southeast Asia.
El Niño and La Niña events:
During El Nino, the warm waters of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean shift westward, which can lead to increased storm activity in Southeast Asia.
In La Nina, cyclonic activities are promoted in the Western Pacific.
The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle widely affects the frequency of storms.
Increase in humidity in the environment:
The amount of moisture in the atmosphere is increasing due to the increase in evaporation in the oceans due to the increase in global temperature. Typhoons are more intense and gradual with this humidity.
Geography of Southeast Asia:
The region lies in the path of the warm currents of the Pacific Ocean and is an ideal centre for typhoon formation.
The geographical location of South-East Asia (with its long coastline and proximity to the western Pacific Ocean) makes it highly vulnerable to tropical cyclones.
Marine Heat Wave:
Increase in ocean heat waves due to climate change is leading to more incidents of temperature rise in the ocean.
Low Land-Sea Temperature Gap:
Climate change is also altering the temperature gradient between land and sea.
Typhoons can have a more severe impact on the associated areas with a longer duration due to a shorter interval in temperature between land and sea.
Urbanization and environmental degradation:
Rapid urbanization, deforestation and destruction of coastal ecosystems (such as mangroves) can increase the impact of typhoons.
