[International] Super El Niño Phenomenon Strikes: BBC Reports 5 Major Impacts on Global Weather
RtiTalk 小編18h ago
The El Niño phenomenon has continued to strengthen over the past few months, significantly impacting global weather patterns. Extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, and heatwaves have occurred in many countries, including Indonesia, India, and the United States, consistent with scientists' predictions that El Niño would exacerbate extreme climate conditions.
The United Nations' World Meteorological Organization (WMO) stated that this record-breaking El Niño is expected to intensify further and will persist at least until next year. BBC News has compiled the five major impacts that have already occurred worldwide:
Indonesia Battles Worst Wildfire Season Since 2015
El Niño years typically make Indonesia drier and hotter, and the country is currently battling its worst wildfire season since 2015.
Since January, at least 895,657 hectares of land, an area about six times the size of Greater London, have been burned. This is more than double the area burned last year when not affected by El Niño.
The wildfires have led to school closures in many parts of Indonesia and a surge in hospital admissions.
Millions of residents in Sumatra and Kalimantan are exposed to toxic smoke, with approximately 175,000 people suffering from respiratory illnesses. Over 40,000 of these cases involve infants and young children, with symptoms ranging from coughs and bronchitis to severe pneumonia.
Frequent Hurricanes in the Eastern Pacific
El Niño tends to enhance hurricane activity in the Eastern Pacific, and this region's hurricane season has been very active so far this year.
There have already been 22 named storms, 12 hurricanes, and 10 of those were major hurricanes. This already exceeds the average for an entire hurricane season, with two months still remaining.
El Niño provides conditions of elevated ocean temperatures and weakened upper-level winds, making it easier for storms to intensify.
Hurricane Polo is one such example. This hurricane rapidly intensified in a short period, generating gusts of up to 285 kilometers per hour, fueled by the extremely warm waters brought by El Niño.
Polo was one of three hurricanes raging simultaneously in the same area, along with Hurricane Odalys and Hurricane Nolo.
A similar situation occurred twice within a single month. The energy released by extreme ocean warming led to three simultaneous hurricanes in the Central and Eastern Pacific in early September: Hurricane Lowell, Hurricane Karina, and Hurricane Marie.
The last time three hurricanes appeared simultaneously in the Pacific was in 2015.
Unusually Calm Atlantic Hurricane Season
In contrast, this year's Atlantic hurricane season has been unusually quiet.
El Niño often strengthens wind shear in the North Atlantic, which disrupts storms and limits their formation.
So far, there has only been one hurricane this season in the Atlantic: Hurricane Isaias, which made landfall in the Florida Panhandle and Alabama.
This is the latest-forming hurricane since the satellite era began in the 1960s. Previously, the latest-forming hurricanes on record occurred on September 11th in 2002 and 2013.
Typically, by this time, there would be 10 named storms, 5 hurricanes, and 2 major hurricanes. However, this year has only seen 8 tropical storms.
Reduced Monsoon Rainfall in India Impacts Agriculture
High temperatures and dry conditions have also affected India, with monsoon rainfall, which is crucial, being 13% below average this year.
While the India Meteorological Department considers this to be within the 'normal range,' the average figures do not reflect regional variations in rainfall distribution.
Central India has experienced largely normal rainfall, but the eastern and northeastern regions are about 26% below average, classified as 'abnormally dry,' while southern states are 24% below average.
Even in areas where rainfall is close to normal, the monsoon season this year has not seen continuous downpours as in previous years. Instead, it has been characterized by alternating periods of prolonged drought and heavy rainfall, increasing agricultural pressure and risks.
However, India's monsoon is influenced by multiple weather systems, and scientists believe El Niño may not be the sole factor.
Strong Typhoons Hit Eastern China and Japan
In the Western Pacific, Eastern China and Japan are also facing an active typhoon season, with typhoons like Maysa and Dujuan bringing widespread floods and landslides.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, 10 tropical cyclones have formed in the Western Pacific this year, the highest number since 1966.
During El Niño, warmer Pacific waters alter wind patterns, causing cyclones to often form in areas further east, away from Japan and Eastern China. This also means storms have more time to absorb heat and moisture from warm ocean waters before making landfall, becoming more powerful typhoons.
Scientists believe more typhoons may form this year, continuing to impact Eastern China and Japan.
Source Link: https://www.rti.org.tw/news?uid=3&pid=239012
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