New Delhi: Asia continues to bear the brunt of weather, climate and water-related hazards in 2023, making it the world's most disaster-prone region, according to a new report by the World Meteorological Organization.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO)'s State of the Climate in Asia - 2023 report said floods and storms caused the highest number of casualties and economic losses and intensified the impact of heat waves.
According to the report, sea surface temperatures in the northwest Pacific Ocean reached record highs and even the Arctic Ocean experienced a marine heat wave.
“Many countries in the region are set to experience their hottest year on record in 2023, as well as extreme conditions ranging from drought and heat waves to floods and storms. Climate change has increased the frequency and severity of such events, Due to which there has been a deep impact on the society, economy and economy.“The most important thing is Huma's life and the environment in which we live,” said Celeste Salo, Secretary-General of WMO.
Citing emergency events database, the report said 79 disasters linked to hydro-meteorological hazards occurred in Asia in 2023, with more than 80 per cent of the events caused by floods and storms, resulting in more than 2,000 deaths. Deaths occurred and nine million people were affected.
Annual average near-surface temperatures in Asia in 2023 were the second highest on record, 0.91 degrees Celsius above the 1991–2020 average and 1.8 degrees above the 1961–1990 average.
Japan and Kazakhstan each had record warm years.
In India, extreme heat in April and June resulted in about 110 deaths due to heatstroke.A large and prolonged heat wave affected Southeast Asia in April and May, extending west to Bangladesh and eastern India and north to southern China, with record-breaking temperatures.
parts of the Turan lowland (Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan); Hindu Kush (Afghanistan, Pakistan); Himalaya; around the Ganges and lower reaches of the Brahmaputra rivers (India and Bangladesh); Arakan Mountains (Myanmar); And below normal rainfall was recorded in the lower reaches of the Mekong River.
Southwest China continued to suffer from drought with precipitation levels below normal in almost every month in 2023, and rainfall associated with the Indian summer monsoon was below average.
In June, July and August, several flood and storm events resulted in more than 600 deaths in India, Pakistan and Nepal. Heavy rains caused flooding in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.In August and early September, devastating floods struck the Far Eastern part of the Russian Federation in one of the largest disasters in recent decades, affecting about 40,000 hectares of rural land.
The High-Mountain Asia region is a high-altitude region centered on the Tibetan Plateau and contains the largest amount of ice outside the polar regions and glaciers cover an area of approximately 100,000 square kilometres. Over the past several decades, most of these glaciers have been retreating and at an accelerated pace.
20 out of 22 glaciers observed in the high-mountain Asia region show consistent mass loss. Record-breaking high temperatures and dry conditions in the eastern Himalayas and much of the Tien Shan have led to massive losses of moss glaciers.During the period 2022–2023, Urumqi Glacier No. 1 in the eastern Tien Shan recorded its second largest negative mass balance since measurements began in 1959.
WMO said warming of the upper ocean (0-700 m) is three times faster than the global average, especially in the northwestern Arabian Sea, the Philippine Sea and east of Japan.
Marine heat waves – prolonged extreme heat that affects the ocean – occurred across a large area of the Arctic Ocean, the eastern Arabian Sea and the North Pacific, and lasted three to five months.
In 2023, 17 named tropical cyclones formed over the western North Pacific Ocean and South China Sea. This was below average but still caused major impacts and record-breaking rainfall in countries including China, Japan, the Philippines and the Republic of Korea.In the northern Indian Ocean basin, Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm Mocha made landfall off the Rakhine coast of Myanmar on May 14, causing widespread destruction and killing 156 people.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO)'s State of the Climate in Asia - 2023 report said floods and storms caused the highest number of casualties and economic losses and intensified the impact of heat waves.
According to the report, sea surface temperatures in the northwest Pacific Ocean reached record highs and even the Arctic Ocean experienced a marine heat wave.
“Many countries in the region are set to experience their hottest year on record in 2023, as well as extreme conditions ranging from drought and heat waves to floods and storms. Climate change has increased the frequency and severity of such events, Due to which there has been a deep impact on the society, economy and economy.“The most important thing is Huma's life and the environment in which we live,” said Celeste Salo, Secretary-General of WMO.
Citing emergency events database, the report said 79 disasters linked to hydro-meteorological hazards occurred in Asia in 2023, with more than 80 per cent of the events caused by floods and storms, resulting in more than 2,000 deaths. Deaths occurred and nine million people were affected.
Annual average near-surface temperatures in Asia in 2023 were the second highest on record, 0.91 degrees Celsius above the 1991–2020 average and 1.8 degrees above the 1961–1990 average.
Japan and Kazakhstan each had record warm years.
In India, extreme heat in April and June resulted in about 110 deaths due to heatstroke.A large and prolonged heat wave affected Southeast Asia in April and May, extending west to Bangladesh and eastern India and north to southern China, with record-breaking temperatures.
parts of the Turan lowland (Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan); Hindu Kush (Afghanistan, Pakistan); Himalaya; around the Ganges and lower reaches of the Brahmaputra rivers (India and Bangladesh); Arakan Mountains (Myanmar); And below normal rainfall was recorded in the lower reaches of the Mekong River.
Southwest China continued to suffer from drought with precipitation levels below normal in almost every month in 2023, and rainfall associated with the Indian summer monsoon was below average.
In June, July and August, several flood and storm events resulted in more than 600 deaths in India, Pakistan and Nepal. Heavy rains caused flooding in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.In August and early September, devastating floods struck the Far Eastern part of the Russian Federation in one of the largest disasters in recent decades, affecting about 40,000 hectares of rural land.
The High-Mountain Asia region is a high-altitude region centered on the Tibetan Plateau and contains the largest amount of ice outside the polar regions and glaciers cover an area of approximately 100,000 square kilometres. Over the past several decades, most of these glaciers have been retreating and at an accelerated pace.
20 out of 22 glaciers observed in the high-mountain Asia region show consistent mass loss. Record-breaking high temperatures and dry conditions in the eastern Himalayas and much of the Tien Shan have led to massive losses of moss glaciers.During the period 2022–2023, Urumqi Glacier No. 1 in the eastern Tien Shan recorded its second largest negative mass balance since measurements began in 1959.
WMO said warming of the upper ocean (0-700 m) is three times faster than the global average, especially in the northwestern Arabian Sea, the Philippine Sea and east of Japan.
Marine heat waves – prolonged extreme heat that affects the ocean – occurred across a large area of the Arctic Ocean, the eastern Arabian Sea and the North Pacific, and lasted three to five months.
In 2023, 17 named tropical cyclones formed over the western North Pacific Ocean and South China Sea. This was below average but still caused major impacts and record-breaking rainfall in countries including China, Japan, the Philippines and the Republic of Korea.In the northern Indian Ocean basin, Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm Mocha made landfall off the Rakhine coast of Myanmar on May 14, causing widespread destruction and killing 156 people.
