After the end of the La Niña phenomenon that lasted for three years, many opinions state that thorough preparations for floods are necessary as this year is expected to receive heavy rainfall due to the influence of El Niño. Despite preparations for last year's floods, many disasters occurred, including several cities being submerged in water. Professor Yeh Sang-wook from the College of Science and Convergence Technology, Department of Marine Science and Convergent Technology stated, "Since even more rainfall is expected this summer than last year, we need to be even more prepared."
El Niño, a naturally occurring phenomenon caused by the temperature difference in the ocean surface.
El Niño and La Niña are opposing phenomena, and after the end of the three-year La Niña, the current developing phenomenon is El Niño. This phenomenon occurs when the sea surface temperatures in the tropical eastern and central Pacific become higher than normal and persist for several months or more. It typically occurs during the summer season and gradually dissipates during the winter. When El Niño occurs, atmospheric changes take on a different pattern than usual, leading to abnormal weather conditions in regions directly or indirectly influenced by El Niño.
Professor Yeh Sang-wook stated, "Although El Niño is a natural phenomenon, it can cause abnormal weather patterns different from usual, and its unpredictability makes it an issue. It will be possible to make reliable predictions after accumulating sufficient data for more than six months."
Will Super El Niño really happen
With the global average sea surface temperature reaching a record high of 21.1 degrees Celsius in April this year, concerns about a "Super El Niño" have been growing. El Niño is a phenomenon characterized by a sustained period of the eastern and central Pacific sea surface temperatures being more than 0.5 degrees Celsius above normal. A Super El Niño refers to a condition where the temperatures are elevated by more than 2 degrees Celsius and persist for several months or more. Though it is not a common occurrence, the anticipated impact is expected to be even greater, considering that the sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific is higher than during the relatively recent Super El Niño event (2015-2016).
Professor Yeh Sang-wook stated, "Since a Super El Niño is a rare phenomenon, it cannot be definitively determined whether it will occur this year. However, if it does happen, the intensity and duration of the abnormal climate could exceed that of an average-sized El Niño."
What are some countermeasures against abnormal weather that humans can do?
One area of recent research in climate studies that has received significant attention is the identification of the "tipping points" in the Earth's climate system. Tipping points refer to the thresholds at which the climate system undergoes irreversible changes. Understanding where these tipping points lie is crucial, but equally important is studying the consequences that occur once these tipping points are crossed.
One prominent measure to mitigate the effects of abnormal climate is achieving "carbon neutrality." Carbon neutrality aims to balance the amount of carbon emissions produced by human activities with the amount naturally absorbed. However, whether this will bring about positive changes for the planet remains uncertain. Professor Yeh Sang-wook emphasized that one practical measure individuals can take in their daily lives to prepare for abnormal weather events is to stay informed by closely monitoring weather forecasts provided by meteorological agencies. Being actively aware of and prepared for abnormal or sudden weather changes through forecast information is an important step in minimizing damages.
Given the active research being conducted to predict abnormal climate events, it is necessary for us to trust and activsky 토토사이트y prepare based on the findings of such studies. Instead of focusing on the accuracy of forecasts, it is crucial to proactivsky 토토사이트y take maximum precautions to minimize damages when abnormal climate events occur.