Super Typhoon Ragasa's Devastation: Climate Change's Role in Deadly Storms
Super Typhoon Ragasa, which recently made landfall in southern China, brought devastating winds and rainfall, with climate change exacerbating its impact. The storm's peak wind speeds were 7% stronger due to global warming, contributing to significant economic losses.
The total economic losses from Typhoon Ragasa across Southeast Asia and China are estimated in the hundreds of millions of USD. Insured losses could potentially exceed tens of millions of USD. A study by the RAPID-Impact team at Imperial College London found that climate change was responsible for more than a third of the economic damages in China alone.
In a world 2C warmer, a Ragasa-like typhoon would cause 24% more damage due to increased storm intensity and structural failures. Currently, the world is on track for 2.6-3.1C of warming by the end of the century, which would make typhoons in southern China stronger and wetter in the future. Today's tropical cyclones similar to Super Typhoon Ragasa are already 10% wetter, around 1C warmer, and roughly 4% windier due to climate change.
The rainfall from Typhoon Ragasa's eyewall was 13% heavier due to climate change. Extreme rainfall events, which historically occurred every seven years, are now expected every five years. As the climate continues to warm, the frequency and intensity of these devastating storms are likely to increase, posing significant threats to lives and economies in the region.
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