The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warned through its climate status report for Asia that the entire continent is facing unprecedented climate disasters. Various weather-related disasters such as heatwaves, marine heatwaves, glacier loss, and extreme precipitation have reached record levels, pointing out that this is already beyond what society can bear.
According to the report, the average temperature in the Asia region last year was 1.04 degrees higher than the 1991–2020 average, which is the highest or second highest level on record. In particular, the warming rate in Asia is found to be about twice as fast as the global average.
The East Asia region suffered from prolonged heatwaves from April to November. Korea recorded the highest monthly average temperatures on record in April, June, August, and September, with September showing a record high 4.2 degrees above the normal level. Japan and China also broke monthly average temperature records over several months.
The sea surface temperatures in the waters surrounding Asia also reached record highs. Over the past decade, the annual average sea surface temperature increase in Asia has been 0.24 degrees, nearly double the global average of 0.13 degrees. Last year had the largest area affected by marine heatwaves since 1993, with marine heatwave intensities observed as 'severe' or 'extreme' in the northern Indian Ocean, off the coast of Japan, the Yellow Sea (West Sea), and the East China Sea.
The loss of glaciers is also at a serious level. Due to reduced snowfall in winter and extreme high temperatures in summer, 23 out of 24 major glaciers in the central Himalayas and the northwestern Tianshan Mountains of China have experienced mass loss. In particular, the Urumqi Glacier No. 1 in the eastern Tianshan Mountains recorded the largest reduction since observations began in 1959.
Climate change has accelerated the polarization of precipitation patterns. Flooding and drought damage have followed across Central Asia, Western Asia, Southern Asia, and Eastern Asia. In Korea, summer typhoons and heavy rainfall resulted in six casualties (five dead, one missing), property damage amounting to 390 billion won, and crop damage covering 37,000 hectares.
However, a study of the September flooding case in Nepal revealed that an early flood warning system provided at least 24 hours prior was crucial in minimizing casualties.
Celest Saulo, Secretary-General of the WMO, emphasized, 'Extreme weather phenomena are already causing unacceptable levels of damage,' and added, 'The role of the Korea Meteorological Administration and partner agencies is more important than ever to protect the lives and livelihoods of people facing the climate crisis.'