PETALING JAYA: As temperatures soared to unprecedented heights final month, the EU Copernicus Climate Change Service officially recognised March because the world’s hottest month since 1850.
“It was a end result of a 10-month streak of relentless international warmth waves, which additionally noticed Malaysia enduring excessive warmth with temperatures reaching a excessive of 33°C in March,” stated East Coast Environmental Research Institute fellow and researcher Dr Azimah Ismail.
“The common temperature in March remained between 26°C and 33°C, which signifies a persistent tropical warmth prevalence within the area. The general heat situations have been brought on by excessive humidity ranges.”
Azimah stated the present intermittent rains and monsoon transition part, which began on the finish of March and extends to May, will see Malaysia experiencing thunderstorms with heavy rain and powerful winds.
“The record-breaking March warmth will affect climate patterns within the months forward, significantly through the monsoon transition. So whereas the intense warmth could also be over, we’ll now expertise heavy rains, robust winds and flash floods,” she stated.
Azimah blamed greenhouse fuel emissions and industrialisation for local weather change, and warned that international leaders need to take the problem way more severely earlier than issues worsen.
“Hotter seas will produce extra moisture within the environment, resulting in more and more erratic climate, together with robust winds and heavy rain. It additionally will increase the hazard of mass coral bleaching occasions.
“Last month, marine scientists warned {that a} mass bleaching was already unfolding within the southern hemisphere and may very well be the worst within the planet’s historical past,” she stated.
Bleaching occurs when coral, which gives an vital ecosystem for underwater life and protects coastal areas by decreasing the energy of waves, will get careworn and turns white as a result of the water it lives in is just too scorching.
While coral might not die when it bleaches, they’re below extra stress and are topic to mortality. In 2005, the US misplaced half of its coral reefs within the Caribbean in a single yr due to an enormous bleaching occasion.
Azimah stated the oceans cowl 70% of the planet and assist preserve the local weather habitable by absorbing 90% of the surplus warmth brought on by carbon dioxide and methane fuel emissions produced by the burning of coal, oil and pure fuel.
“This trajectory won’t change till concentrations of greenhouse gasses within the environment cease rising. The potential implications of a protracted interval of upper temperatures might trigger warmth stroke and dehydration to be extra widespread.”
Azimah stated prolonged warmth waves additionally damage the surroundings and would result in wildfires, droughts and ecosystem modifications.
“Heat waves can set off vital modifications in ecosystems, impacting plant and animal life and altering ecological processes.
“Plants might expertise warmth stress, lowered development charges, and elevated susceptibility to pests and ailments, resulting in modifications in vegetation composition and distribution.
“Similarly, animals might face challenges find meals and water sources, and a few species could also be pressured emigrate or adapt to new habitats to outlive, affecting the steadiness of ecosystems and biodiversity,” she stated.
Azimah careworn the significance of decreasing greenhouse fuel emissions, particularly these stemming from human actions reminiscent of industrial processes, vehicular emissions, and open burning.
“The adoption of renewable power sources in residential areas, reminiscent of rainwater harvesting programs, is among the many essential measures in addressing this challenge.
“The manufacturing of electrical autos is likely one of the strikes ahead that has been carried out by the federal government to scale back carbon emissions. But extra must be finished,” she stated.
