Asia is heating up nearly twice as quickly as the international average, fueling unprecedented heatwaves, marine heat events, glacial retreat and extreme flooding, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warned in its State of the Climate in Asia 2024 report released on Monday.According to the WMO, 2024 ranked as either the hottest or second-warmest year on record throughout Asia, with typical temperature levels soaring about 1.04 °& deg; C above the 1991–-- 2020 baseline.
Heatwaves swept across East, Southeast and Central Asia from spring through fall, shattering regular monthly temperature records in Japan, South Korea and China, while Myanmar recorded a historical high of 48.2 °& deg; C.The continent & rsquo; s surrounding seas also experienced unmatched warming.
Sea surface temperature levels in the northern Arabian Sea and the Northwest Pacific climbed up at almost double the global rate—-- 0.24 °& deg; C per years-- driving marine heatwaves that impacted some 15 million km² & sup2; of ocean in August and September alone.
Coastal areas deal with mounting sea-level increase, with the waters bordering the Indian and Pacific Oceans increasing faster than the international mean.High-Mountain Asia—-- the “& ldquo; Third Pole & rdquo; making up glaciers in the Himalayas and Tian Shan—-- suffered remarkable ice losses.
Of 24 kept track of glaciers, 23 recorded net mass loss in 2023–-- 24, intensified by reduced winter season snowfall and blistering summer season heat.
Urumqi Glacier No.
1 in eastern Tian Shan, in Central Asia, marked its most affordable mass balance since measurements began in 1959, increasing dangers of glacial lake outburst floods and regional water insecurity.Extreme precipitation events compounded the crisis: Central Asia sustained its worst floods in 7 years, displacing more than 118,000 individuals, while serious monsoon downpours triggered fatal landslides in India’& rsquo; s Kerala state.
Late-season storms in Nepal declared at least 246 lives and triggered almost $94 million in damages, though strengthened early-warning systems and anticipatory action assisted secure over 130,000 homeowners.
On the other hand, dry spell in China left 4.8 million people without water for watering and inflicted over $400 million in farming losses.“& ldquo; The State of the Climate in Asia report highlights shifts in essential signs—-- surface area temperature, glacier mass and sea level—-- that will have extensive effects for societies, economies and ecosystems,” & rdquo; stated WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.
She highlighted the vital role of nationwide meteorological agencies and their partners in delivering early warnings and protecting susceptible communities.The report underscores the urgency for regional cooperation on environment adjustment and mitigation.
As Asia faces heightening weather extremes, enhancing strength through improved forecasting, facilities investment and sustainable resource management will be critical to securing lives and livelihoods throughout the world’& rsquo; s fastest-warming continent.
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