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Super Typhoon Ragasa & climate change
1. Why is Typhoon Ragasa considered significant?
Typhoon Ragasa is one of the most powerful storms in recent years, with wind speeds exceeding 250 km/h. Striking late in the season, it caught experts off guard and highlighted how altered climate systems are reshaping global weather patterns. Ragasa’s intensity classifies it as a “superstorm”, comparable to the strongest hurricanes observed in the Atlantic.
2. How does climate change make storms more intense?
Climate change warms the oceans, and warm oceans serve as fuel for cyclones. This excess heat contributes to:
- Greater evaporation: More moisture and energy are supplied to storms.
- Disturbed ocean currents and air pressure systems: Larger temperature differences drive storm development.
- Slower dissipation: Storms like Ragasa can last longer and penetrate further inland without losing strength.
In short, human-driven warming creates near-perfect conditions for super typhoons.
3. Why do typhoons like Ragasa remain strong even after landfall?
Traditionally, storms weakened over land because they lost their oceanic heat source. Today, typhoons such as Ragasa can sustain their strength inland due to vast reserves of ocean heat. Oceans have absorbed much of the excess heat from greenhouse gas emissions, allowing storms to retain destructive energy for longer periods and travel further inland than in previous decades.
4. How is the 1.5°C global warming threshold linked to extreme storms?
Exceeding the 1.5°C warming limit is scientifically significant because it:
- Increases the frequency and severity of heatwaves, droughts, and floods.
- Raises ocean heat levels, fueling stronger typhoons.
- Disrupts long-term climate balance, making superstorms like Ragasa more common rather than exceptional events.
This threshold is a critical marker for climate system stability, not just a symbolic number.
5. What lessons does Ragasa provide for global action?
Typhoon Ragasa illustrates that climate change is an immediate threat, not a distant possibility. Key lessons include:
- Rapid emission reductions are essential to prevent further ocean heating.
- Coastal and inland planning must account for storms capable of causing widespread damage.
- Global cooperation on climate adaptation is crucial, as storms affect economies, supply chains, and migration beyond their immediate strike zones.