The Monsoon Is Over — Now Comes the Real Heat: A Snapshot from Korea’s Weather Forecast
Something strange is happening with Korea’s summer this year — and it’s not just your imagination. The monsoon season arrived earlier than usual, but in many regions like Jeju and the southern provinces, it’s already over. Now, extreme heat and sultry tropical nights have taken its place.
According to climate scientists, the summer we once knew — with its predictable rainy season and gradual heat buildup — has vanished.
☔ The End of a Traditional Monsoon
This year marked the first time ever that the monsoon ended in Jeju in June. For southern regions, it was the second earliest monsoon withdrawal in recorded history. The rains disappeared before they really even started — and what followed was relentless heat.
In fact, the average temperature across Korea last month broke all-time records since weather data began being collected. And this isn’t just a blip — it’s part of a disturbing new pattern.
What's Causing the Heat?
The extreme heat has pushed out the monsoon, and it’s coming from a familiar culprit: hot and humid air surging up from the south.
Take a look at the North Pacific subtropical high-pressure system observed in late June. It had extended much further north than usual — reaching all the way to the south of Jeju Island. Normally, this system would stay near Okinawa or Taiwan. But now, it’s encroaching deep into East Asia.
And this isn’t a one-off.
In the early 2000s, this pressure system looked like a relatively contained island in the Pacific. But by the 2010s and 2020s, it has ballooned like a giant heat dome, expanding its influence into East Asia — powered by steadily rising air and ocean temperatures.
“Every year, we’re seeing the North Pacific high-pressure system shifting further north — and faster,” one climatologist explained. “This has become a consistent trend over the past 20–30 years as a result of global warming.”
The Atlantic’s Role: Enter the ‘Atlantic Niña’
But there’s another, lesser-known phenomenon that may be amplifying the chaos: the Atlantic Niña.
This occurs when the eastern equatorial Atlantic — from the west coast of Africa to parts of Brazil — cools significantly. Recent satellite data show vast blue patches across this region, indicating a sharp drop in sea surface temperatures.
And this matters, because when the Atlantic warms overall but experiences this localized cooling, it disrupts global atmospheric circulation patterns — even strengthening the North Pacific high-pressure system thousands of kilometers away.
“The Atlantic Niña affects the Pacific because rising Atlantic ocean temperatures give more energy to the atmosphere, which then alters circulation patterns on a global scale,” said another expert.
The Disappearance of “Normal” Summers
Climatologists agree: the classic Korean summer is now a thing of the past.
“Traditional monsoons have all but disappeared. Since the 2020s, irregular monsoons have become the new normal. Temperature and rainfall variations have grown dramatically.”
What This Means for the Rest of the Summer
Experts warn that this summer could be the most dangerous yet — not just because of prolonged heatwaves and tropical nights, but because of what may follow: unpredictable downpours and flash floods.
This is a classic case of a compound disaster: one extreme event triggering another, all under a climate system that’s becoming more volatile every year.
As the summer heats up, it’s not just about staying cool — it’s about staying prepared. The climate is changing fast, and the time to adapt is now.
No comments:
Post a Comment