A recent study has found that climate change intensified the winds and rainfall of Typhoon Gaemi, leading to dozens of fatalities across the Philippines and China earlier this year.
According to the World Weather Attribution (WWA), a network of scientists specializing in assessing the impact of climate change on extreme weather events, Typhoon Gaemi’s destruction was exacerbated by human-induced global warming.
The study analyzed the regions most affected by the typhoon: the northern Philippines, Taiwan region, and China’s Hunan Province. Findings indicate that the typhoon’s wind speeds were 7% stronger due to climate change, while rainfall was 14% heavier in Taiwan and 9% heavier in Hunan.
While the study could not conclusively determine the influence of climate change on rainfall in the Philippines due to complex monsoon patterns, it highlighted that the warm sea temperatures fueling Typhoon Gaemi “would have been virtually impossible” without the current 1.2 degrees Celsius of global warming since pre-industrial times.
The researchers also noted that rising temperatures have already increased the frequency of similarly strong storms by 30%, from approximately five per year to six or seven.
These findings underscore the escalating risks posed by climate change, emphasizing the urgent need for global efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and enhance resilience in vulnerable regions.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
