A study revealed that climate change intensified a series of six storms in the Philippines, resulting in over 170 deaths and displacing 1.4 million people. It indicated a significant rise in the frequency and severity of typhoons, with findings suggesting that climate change has nearly doubled the likelihood of extreme weather conditions. Researchers highlighted the alarming trend of more intense storms attributed to rising ocean temperatures and changing atmospheric conditions.
A recent study has revealed that climate change significantly heightened the severity of an unprecedented series of six storms that ravaged the Philippines from October to November 2024, resulting in over 170 fatalities. According to the analysis conducted by World Weather Attribution (WWA), the onslaught of five typhoons and one tropical storm caused mass displacement of approximately 1.4 million individuals and inflicted economic damages nearing $500 million. The research highlights an alarming trend indicating that a greater number of typhoons are now ascending to Category 3 and higher due to escalating global temperatures attributed to fossil fuel emissions.
This comprehensive investigation, involving researchers from the Philippines, Britain, and the Netherlands, established that climate change has nearly doubled the chances of the atmospheric conditions that contribute to the formation and intensification of typhoons, specifically regarding variations in sea surface temperatures and humidity levels. Computer modeling further indicated a 25 percent increase in the probability of experiencing at least three Category 3 to 5 typhoons in a single year.
Dr. Ben Clarke from Imperial College London emphasized the extraordinary nature of such severe weather occurrences within a relatively short time frame, stating that “the barrage of typhoons was supercharged by climate change.” He cautioned that these storm-favoring conditions will likely continue to escalate as global warming proceeds. The study was published in the context of alarming climate reports, with the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service declaring 2024 the warmest year on record.
The increase in sea temperatures, which have absorbed a significant portion of the excess heat from human activity, serves as vital energy sources for the storms. Typhoons rapidly develop using warm ocean waters, drawing considerable moisture, leading to heightened storm strength and precipitation levels. Remarkably, November 2024 recorded a simultaneous occurrence of four named storms in the Pacific, marking an unprecedented event since official record-keeping commenced in 1951.
The repercussions of these storms were severe, particularly affecting Luzon, where most of the typhoons made landfall. Tropical storm Trami alone resulted in significant fatalities and rainfall accumulation. Following this, Super Typhoon Kong-Rey impacted Taiwan, while Typhoon Xinying forced evacuations in Luzon due to its catastrophic wind speeds. Overall, the Philippines usually experiences six to eight tropical cyclones annually; thus, witnessing five such events in a month is extraordinary, highlighting the destructive potential amplified by climate change, according to climatologist Joseph Basconcillo.
To date, WWA has undertaken more than 90 studies worldwide that analyze the influence of climate change on extreme weather phenomena, consistently demonstrating that individual weather events can be linked to climate change and that many storms are becoming increasingly severe due to its effects.
The phenomenon of climate change is characterized by long-term alterations in temperature and typical weather patterns, which are primarily driven by human activities, particularly fossil fuel emissions. In the context of the Philippines, a country situated within a highly active typhoon region of the Pacific, climate change poses severe risks, as rising sea temperatures and changing weather patterns contribute to the frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones. This backdrop is essential to understand the implications of recent research findings regarding storm activity in the Philippines and globally.
In summary, the impact of climate change has rendered storms in the Philippines increasingly severe, as evidenced by the recent analysis of the six back-to-back storms that occurred between October and November 2024. This study indicated a disturbing trend of heightened storm intensity and frequency due to environmental conditions fueled by global warming. As researchers warn of the continuing rise in destructive weather events, the need for proactive measures and policies addressing climate change becomes ever more crucial.
Original Source: asianews.network
