GS3 – Environment
Context:
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released its “State of the Climate in Asia 2024” report, offering crucial insights into key climate trends and challenges in the region.
About the Report
- Prepared by: WMO, with inputs from:
- National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs)
- UN agencies
- Objective:
To track key climate indicators in Asia and support policymaking on resilience, adaptation, and risk reduction. - Comparative Baselines:
- 1991–2020: Regional trend reference
- 1850–1900: Pre-industrial benchmark (for global warming comparisons)
- Key Data Sources:
- ERA5: ECMWF’s reanalysis dataset (hourly global climate data since 1940)
- NOAA: US agency providing weather and ocean data
- GISTEMP: NASA’s global temperature dataset (Goddard Institute)
Key Findings of the 2024 Report
Record-Breaking Temperatures
- 2024: Warmest year on record, surpassing 2023’s 1.45°C rise (above pre-industrial levels)
- Warming rate (1991–2024): Double that of the 1961–1990 period
- All years from 2015 to 2024 featured in the top 10 warmest years
Ocean and Sea Surface Changes
- Sea Surface Temperature in Asia:
- Rose by 0.22–0.26°C per decade — nearly twice the global average
- Marine Heatwaves (2024):
- Affected 15 million km² of Asian seas
- Worst-hit regions: Northern Indian Ocean, Yellow Sea, East China Sea
Glacier Retreat
- 23 of 24 monitored glaciers in the Himalayas and Tian Shan showed mass loss
- Reasons: Low winter snowfall + extreme summer heat
Changing Precipitation and Extreme Events
- Short, intense rainfall events are becoming more common
- Droughts are expanding geographically
- Cyclones:
- Increasing in frequency
- Becoming off-season, stronger, and more destructive
Underlying Drivers of Warming in Asia
- Rapid urbanisation (heat-island effect)
- Deforestation reducing carbon sinks
- Large landmass (absorbs more solar radiation)
- Heavy coal dependency for energy
- Accelerated snowmelt due to warming