Coreia do Sul enfrenta recorde histórico de calor e pressão energética
edited by Alexander Pol
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
reputable news agency
South Korea registered its highest temperature since records began more than a century ago on Sunday, as authorities warned people to "immediately" stop all outdoor activities in affected areas.
The southeastern city of Yangsan saw the temperature reach 42.5°C (109°F) at 1:26 p.m. (4:26 a.m. GMT), the Korea Meteorological Administration said on its website.
Yangsan has been the epicenter of the ongoing heat wave, where temperatures exceeded 40°C (104°F) for a fifth consecutive day on Sunday, while many other cities, including Daegu and Busan, saw temperatures climb into the high 30s.
People flocked to air-conditioned shopping malls or cafes to escape the blistering temperatures, an AFP reporter saw.
Ju Dong-yeol, 27, took refuge from the heat in a Starbucks in Seoul along with his parents and told AFP, "It is too hot to be outside doing anything."
"I can't think of anything else to do other than stay in air-conditioned places like home, shopping malls and cafes," the office worker said.
More than 20 localities were under emergency heat wave alerts on Sunday—a new warning category introduced this year to better address rising temperatures.
An emergency alert is issued when areas experiencing a heat wave are forecast to hit perceived temperatures of 38°C (100°F) or an actual temperature of 39°C (102°F) for the day.
Issuing a heat warning, the weather agency urged people to "immediately stop all outdoor activities," adding that "indoor spaces without air conditioning are dangerous."
"Move immediately to a cool place, such as a designated cooling center or a shaded area, and stay hydrated while resting," it advised.
Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) data shows the average annual number of heat wave days in the country has more than doubled to 19 over the past five years, from eight in the 1970s.
A heat wave day is defined as one with a maximum temperature of at least 33°C (91°F).
Baseball canceled
South Korea's professional baseball league was also forced to cancel one game in Changwon after the city's temperature climbed to 39.5°C (103°F) during the day, marking the second consecutive game cancellation in the city.
"The decision was made with the safety and health of spectators and players as the top priority, as a severe heat wave warning remains in effect for the Changwon area," the Korea Baseball Organization said in a statement.
Scientists warn that extreme weather events such as heat waves are becoming more frequent and intense as a result of human-induced climate change.
Adding to the extreme weather is the return this year of El Niño—a natural climate phenomenon that warms Pacific Ocean surface temperatures and typically occurs every two to seven years.
- European authorities issued health warnings, battled wildfires and urged people to avoid outdoor activities during afternoons.
- An emergency alert is issued when areas experiencing a heatwave are forecast to hit perceived temperatures of 38C or an actual temperature of 39C for the day.
Europe also sweltered through a scorching summer this year, with prolonged heat waves pushing temperatures above 40°C (104°F) in parts of the south.
European authorities issued health warnings, battled wildfires and urged people to avoid outdoor activities in the afternoons.
After sweeping across western Europe at the start of last week, the season's latest heat wave scorched central Europe before reaching Italy over the weekend.
Italian authorities said nearly all of the country's major cities would be under the highest heat alert from Monday.
PhD nano-engineering from Delft University. Published researcher and journal reviewer. Brings scientific insight to content standards. Full profile →
Acompanhe a Recifes.net
Gostou desta leitura? Siga a Recifes nas redes e receba as proximas pautas no WhatsApp.
Matéria produzida com curadoria editorial assistida por IA, a partir de pauta de phys.org.
