Japan experiences warmest spring on record

Japan this year experienced its warmest spring on record as greenhouse gases and El Nino sent temperatures soaring around the world.

Tokyo's skyline seen through a layer of dusty air from the I-link Town observation deck on April 13. Photo: AFP — Tokyo's skyline seen through a layer of dusty air from the I-link Town observation deck on April 13. Photo: *AFP*

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said on June 1 that temperatures in March, April and May were 1.59 degrees Celsius above average, making this spring the hottest since the agency began taking measurements in 1898.

"Global warming has made such record temperatures more frequent, and they are expected to become more common in the future as global warming continues," the JMA said. The agency also said the average surface temperature of the seas around Japan in March, April and May was the third highest since 1982.

The United Nations said last month that 2023-2027 is almost certain to be the hottest five-year period on record, partly due to the high likelihood of an El Nino weather phenomenon developing in the coming months, causing further global temperature rises.

El Nino is a naturally occurring climate pattern, typically associated with rising temperatures around the world, causing drought in some places and heavy rain in others. The phenomenon most recently occurred in 2018-2019.

The average global temperature in 2022 was 1.15 degrees Celsius above the 1850-1900 average. Much of South and Southeast Asia has been hit by spring heatwaves as global warming has led to more extreme weather. On May 29, Shanghai recorded its hottest May day in more than 100 years, beating the previous record by a full degree Celsius.

Scientists say climate change is increasing the risk of heavy rains in Japan and elsewhere because the warmer atmosphere holds more water. Heavy rains in 2021 caused a landslide in the city of Atami that killed 27 people. In 2018, floods and landslides during the rainy season killed more than 200 people in western Japan.

Japan holds the rotating presidency of the G7 in 2023. The G7 this year pledged to accelerate the phase-out of planet-warming fossil fuels. However, the group of leading economies failed to agree on any new deadline for ending polluting energy sources such as coal.

Thu Thao (According to AFP )

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