From Droughts To Deluges: How Climate Change Is Making Rains More Fierce, Typhoons Intense

Climate change is altering global rainfall patterns, scientists reported in a paper released on Friday. This shift may also be intensifying typhoons and other tropical storms, according to Reuters report. Taiwan, the Philippines, and China experienced the year's most powerful typhoon this week, with wind speeds reaching 227 kph. Schools, businesses, and financial markets were closed as a result.

Researchers led by Zhang Wenxia from the China Academy of Sciences analysed historical weather data. They discovered that about 75% of the world's land area has seen increased "precipitation variability," meaning more extreme swings between wet and dry periods. The study was published in the Science journal. This research comes in the wake of Typhoon Gaemi, the year's most powerful storm, which recently battered Taiwan, the Philippines, and China.

Steven Sherwood from the Climate Change Research Centre at the University of New South Wales noted that variability has risen in many regions, including Australia. He stated, "This is going to increase as global warming continues, enhancing the chances of droughts and/or floods."

The ability of the atmosphere to hold moisture has been enhanced by rising temperatures. This leads to greater fluctuations in rainfall patterns, according to the researchers.

Fewer but Stronger Tropical Storms

Scientists believe climate change is also affecting tropical storms' behaviour, making them less frequent but more intense. Typhoon Gaemi, which hit Taiwan on Wednesday, was the strongest in eight years. Sachie Kanada from Japan's Nagoya University mentioned that warmer sea surface temperatures favour tropical cyclone development.

"I believe higher water vapour in the atmosphere is the ultimate cause of all of these tendencies toward more extreme hydrologic phenomena," Sherwood told Reuters.

China's recent "blue paper" on climate change indicated a significant decline in typhoons in the Northwest Pacific and South China Sea since the 1990s. However, those that do occur are becoming stronger. Taiwan's climate change report from May echoed these findings.

Uneven Ocean Warming

The uneven pattern of ocean warming contributes to fewer but stronger typhoons. Feng Xiangbo from the University of Reading explained that temperatures are rising faster in the western Pacific than in the east. This disparity affects typhoon frequency and intensity.

Water vapour capacity in the lower atmosphere is expected to rise by 7% for each 1 degree Celsius increase in temperature. Feng noted that tropical cyclone rainfall in the United States could surge by up to 40% for each single degree rise.

While attributing individual weather events directly to climate change remains challenging, models predict stronger typhoons due to global warming. The ongoing changes highlight an urgent need for adaptation strategies worldwide.