East Asia faces increase in heatwaves, urgent need to adapt, study finds

Heat stress: Temperatures of 35ºC and above, when twinned with high humidity, are especially dangerous for people. – AFP

HEATWAVES are predicted to become more frequent and intense in East Asia with climate change, increasing the risks to human health and agriculture and creating an urgent need to develop strategies to adapt, scientists said in a recent study.

Heatwaves have been growing in severity and regularity worldwide, and a team of international researchers – led by Professor Kyung-Ja Ha from Pusan National University in South Korea – wanted to analyse the prevalence of two types of heatwaves in East Asia: hot and dry as well as moist and high humidity.