Asia Heatwave Alert: Scorching Temperatures Recorded in Multiple Countries

Heatwaves are a growing weather and climatic phenomenon in the past several decades, characterized by above-average temperatures in a particular area, region, or even continent. Previous related events had been marked by sweltering heat deemed by experts as potentially life-threatening, as observed in heat-related deaths in western North America in recent years. This year, heatwaves were also observed in Asia.

Asia is seeing the occurrence of potentially dangerous heatwaves, according to meteorological reports. This is based on scorching temperatures seen in several countries in recent months, including Bangladesh, China, India, Pakistan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Multiple fatalities have also been reported, including in India's Uttar Pradesh state this year alone.

The Asia heatwave threat is not a novel case but rather a continuance of a decades-long global emergency crisis, manifesting from a warming planet and changing climate. In recent years, climate scientists have correlated heatwave, also called heat domes, with the ongoing 'climate crises mainly caused by anthropogenic activities like greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel burning.

Asia Heatwave Alert

Heatwave in Asia is becoming more evident as temperatures have increased significantly in recent weeks and months, according to reports.

In India, the brunt of the extreme heat has been linked to the deaths of at least 44 deaths in the state of Uttar Pradesh, a health official told CNN.

In China, temperatures in the northeast are expected to remain high, as some cities recorded above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), according to the country's meteorological observatory, as cited by AccuWeather.

In Vietnam, increased demand for electricity and decreased hydropower production in the country forced some cities to save energy consumption amid a raging heat wave in late May.

What is a Heatwave?

Heatwave, also spelled heat wave or known as extreme heat, is a period of "unusually hot weather." It normally lasts for two or more days. Temperatures should exceed the historical average of a particular area for it to be considered as such, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Meteorologists and scientists in general monitor the said phenomenon by identifying 'heat anomalies' in each area, appearing as red and other associated colors, based from the NOAA. This is observed when temperatures exceed a normal temperature in a wide area for a prolonged period. The more an area is red means the above-average temperature is also higher.

Heatwave Deaths

Extreme heat, as mentioned earlier, has been linked by weather authorities before with heat-related deaths, particularly caused by heat stroke, dehydration, and among others.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 166,000 people died from heatwaves between 1998 and 2017, including more than 70,000 people who died during the 2003 European heatwave. The WHO also blames climate change for the increasing population exposure to heat.

From 2000 to 2016, the number of exposed populations to extreme heat spiked by around 125 million, the international health body adds.