This is an AI translated post.
Tropical Nights and Heat Waves: Increasing Trend in Abnormal Climate Phenomena
- Writing language: Korean
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Base country: Japan
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Summarized by durumis AI
- South Korea has recently experienced frequent tropical nights and heat waves, which is interpreted as the effect of climate change caused by global warming.
- The number of tropical nights has significantly increased since the 1990s, and the number of heat wave days is also steadily increasing.
- Tropical nights and heat waves have adverse effects on various fields, including health, crop damage, and electricity supply imbalance. Therefore, adaptation efforts at the individual and community levels are needed, along with greenhouse gas reduction.
In recent years, South Korea has been experiencing record-breaking heat waves and tropical nights every summer. Tropical nights are defined as nights with a minimum temperature of 25°C or higher, while heat waves refer to days with a maximum temperature of 35°C or higher. These phenomena are attributed to climate change caused by global warming.
According to data from the Korea Meteorological Administration, the number of tropical nights has significantly increased since the 1990s. In Seoul, the average number of tropical nights per year has increased fivefold, from 2.4 days in the 1970s to 11.7 days in the 2010s. Notably, in 2016 and 2018, Seoul experienced 31.6 and 24.1 tropical nights, respectively, setting new record highs.
The number of heatwave days has also been steadily increasing. The average number of heatwave days per year in the 1960s was only 1.1, but it rose to 6.3 in the 2010s. In 2018, record-breaking heat waves occurred across the country, with Seoul experiencing 16.6 heatwave days and Daegu recording 24.9 heatwave days.
Frequent occurrences of tropical nights and heat waves have adverse impacts on various aspects, including health, agricultural damage, and electricity supply imbalance. The risk of heatstroke is particularly high for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and children. In response, the Korea Meteorological Administration issues public advisories when tropical nights and heat waves are anticipated.
Climate change-induced extreme weather events are expected to become more frequent. It is crucial to implement mitigation efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, along with adaptation measures at individual and community levels.
