초여름의 뜨거운 습격과 기후 위기의 서막: 6월의 변덕스러운 하늘이 던지는 경고 > 뉴스

On the weekend of the 13th and 14th, the highest daytime temperature in most parts of the country soars to 32 degrees, heralding the peak of early summer. Major cities such as Seoul, Daejeon, and Daegu are experiencing premature heat waves to citizens with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius, which is significantly higher than the average temperature. Not only are temperatures high, but the UV index has also reached the 'very high' level, requiring caution when engaging in outdoor activities. This high temperature phenomenon may be influenced by temporary atmospheric pressure, but it is difficult to deny the fact that the accumulated aftereffects of global warming are underlying it. The news of showers starting from the Jeolla region and expanding to the central region along with the hot sunshine shows a typical summer weather pattern that occurs when the heat in the atmosphere becomes unstable.

The key to this weekend's weather forecast is 'localized heavy rain' and 'sudden weather.' On the 14th, strong showers of up to 20 mm per hour are expected to fall mainly in the metropolitan area, Chungcheong area, and Jeolla area, and this process is likely to be accompanied by gusts of wind, thunder, lightning, and even hail. Meteorologically, this is a phenomenon that occurs when the temperature difference between the upper and lower layers of the atmosphere is large and humidity is high. Due to the nature of showers, the variation in precipitation is expected to be very large even within the same area. Particular attention must be paid to traffic safety during the early morning hours when fog is thick and heavy rain showers make visibility difficult. The reason the Korea Meteorological Administration asks you to check real-time radar images frequently is because local weather changes that fall outside the forecast range have become much more frequent and powerful than in the past.

The instability of meteorological phenomena is not just a problem on the Korean Peninsula. Recently, the Japan Meteorological Agency officially declared the occurrence of an El Niño phenomenon based on the rise in sea surface temperature in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. This is the earliest judgment by any meteorological agency around the world, and climate models are warning that sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific could rise by up to 3.8 degrees Celsius above normal by the end of this year. The emergence of the so-called 'Super El Niño' is the main culprit in raising the average global temperature and increasing the frequency of extreme weather events around the world. The fact that tropical storm activity in the Pacific region is already increasing suggests that El Niño is shaking up the Earth's atmospheric circulation system itself beyond simple changes in sea surface temperature. Changes in these large-scale weather systems will inevitably have a direct impact on the Korean Peninsula's summer precipitation patterns and heat wave intensity.

As the climate crisis becomes a reality, the most powerful weapon we can use to respond is ‘data reliability.’ According to the future outlook released by the Korea Meteorological Administration, in a 'high carbon scenario' without carbon reduction efforts, the risk of domestic forest fires in the second half of this century is expected to surge by more than 40% compared to the current level. In particular, Gangwon Yeongdong and Gyeongbuk regions, combined with a dry climate, are vulnerable to forest fires and are placed in the risk zone of the 'extreme forest fire weather index'. In order to scientifically observe these crisis situations and reflect them in policies, 'meteorological observation standardization' at the national level is essential. This is because AI analysis or use of big data without data reliability is no different from building a castle on sand. Regular testing and systematic management of observation equipment is the most basic and core infrastructure for responding to the climate crisis.