The year's deadliest typhoon, Kalmaegi, barreled through the Philippines earlier this week, leaving at least 188 lives lost, before making landfall in Vietnam where it claimed 5 more. 😢
As delegates from over 190 countries gather in Belem, Brazil for crucial climate talks, researchers are warning that Kalmaegi is no freak accident. Rising sea surface temperatures in the western North Pacific and the South China Sea are pumping up storms—making them wetter, stronger, and more frequent.
Ben Clarke from London's Grantham Institute explains that Kalmaegi will be more powerful and wetter because warmer seas act like an energy drink for typhoons, supercharging them with moisture and wind.
Last year, the Philippines faced six deadly typhoons in just one month, and even saw four tropical cyclones spinning simultaneously back in November. Drubajyoti Samanta of Singapore's NTU warns that while the total number of cyclones might not spike dramatically, their back-to-back arrival and intensity could skyrocket. 🚀
For young pros juggling work, college, or side hustles in South and Southeast Asia, Kalmaegi is a stark reminder: climate change isn't a distant buzzword—it's hitting home. From Jakarta's floods to Kolkata's heatwaves, we're feeling the impact.
What can we do? 🌱 Support community-based climate projects, push for stronger environmental policies, and cut down on single-use plastics and carbon footprints. It's on all of us to help cool down our planet—one small step at a time.
Stay informed, stay prepared, and let's keep the conversation going. The future is in our hands! ✌️
Reference(s):
Typhoon Kalmaegi havoc in SE Asia: Scientists blame rising temperature
cgtn.com
