Climate change is causing notable changes in monsoon reliability across East Asia, affecting millions.
**Unpredictability of Monsoon: East Asia Faces Drier Summers**
**Unpredictability of Monsoon: East Asia Faces Drier Summers**
Shifting weather patterns redefine traditional rainy seasons in South Korea and Japan.
Recent observations indicate a significant shift in East Asia's monsoon patterns, particularly in South Korea and Japan, where the rainy season has become increasingly unreliable. Residents in cities like Seoul are now opting to leave their umbrellas at home, as evidenced by Choi Moon-hee, who found herself unexpectedly caught in a downpour after two weeks of dry weather. She noted, "In the past, if it started raining, it would last for about a half-month, and we’d use our umbrellas often.”
This year's rainy season began on less than favorable terms, with South Korean forecasts revealing that in many southern regions, the monsoon was prematurely declared over. In western Japan, the rainy season closure occurred in late June, marking the earliest end date since records were kept in those countries.
Traditionally, this rainy season, extending from mid-June to July, relied upon a stationary weather front that consistently brought prolonged rainfall. However, since the late 1990s, this seasonal trend has changed dramatically. The inconsistent patterns have drawn concerns from scientists who attribute these changes primarily to climate change, which has intensified extreme weather events across the globe.
This erratic weather tendency brings a unique challenge, especially since similar patterns are being observed in other countries like India and China. Billions of people face unpredictable climatic events, leading to both floods and droughts—highlighting the severe implications of a warming planet.
This year's rainy season began on less than favorable terms, with South Korean forecasts revealing that in many southern regions, the monsoon was prematurely declared over. In western Japan, the rainy season closure occurred in late June, marking the earliest end date since records were kept in those countries.
Traditionally, this rainy season, extending from mid-June to July, relied upon a stationary weather front that consistently brought prolonged rainfall. However, since the late 1990s, this seasonal trend has changed dramatically. The inconsistent patterns have drawn concerns from scientists who attribute these changes primarily to climate change, which has intensified extreme weather events across the globe.
This erratic weather tendency brings a unique challenge, especially since similar patterns are being observed in other countries like India and China. Billions of people face unpredictable climatic events, leading to both floods and droughts—highlighting the severe implications of a warming planet.
