Why tropical cyclones could be twice as destructive in future

By Gwyn Wright via SWNS

Tropical cyclones in Asia could become twice as destructive by the end of the century as the climate warms, warns a new study.

Researchers from the Chinese University of Hong Kong found there has been a sharp rise in tropical cyclone impacts across East Asia and Southeast Asia in the last four decades.

The storms- which lead to heavy rain, strong winds and storm surges- are among the most dangerous types of natural disasters.

They have caused almost 780,000 deaths and cost the global economy more than $1.3 billion in the past half century.

Deadly and destructive flooding, such as those caused by typhoons across China in June and Hurricane Ida which swept across the US in August, could become more commonplace.

Recent research has shown the number of strong tropical cyclones across East and Southeast Asia has been rising.

Climate models have suggested warming temperatures could influence tropical cyclones while other research has suggested heating oceans could intensify their strength.

The researchers found that, since 1979, cyclones have been stronger, lasted between two and nine hours longer and made their way between 30km and 190km further inland.

By the end of the century, the deadly storms will last for almost five hours longer and will go 92km further inland.

But the researchers cautioned more research is needed to understand how rising temperatures could affect cyclones.

Study author Dr. Chi-Yung Tam said: “Tropical storm-related hazards can definitely affect inland regions, and we should pay more attention to this, especially under the climate crisis.

“The climate crisis will likely continue the increasing trend in landfalling typhoons and their impacts on inland regions, based on high-resolution climate model projections.

"More Asian inland regions may be exposed to more severe storm-related disasters in the future as a result of the climate crisis.”

The findings were published in the journal Frontiers in Earth Science.