Typhoons to see destructive power double by end of century

Maisy Mok

Typhoons will have double the destructive power by the end of this century, as well as travel further inland and be more long lasting, researchers from the Chinese University of Hong Kong predicted.

The study, led by associate professor of the university's Earth System Science Program, Francis Tam Chi-yung, and published in the Frontiers in Earth Science journal, explores the changing impact of typhoons on the East and southeast Asian inland regions from 1979 to 2016 and the area's future under a warmer climate.

"Typhoon In-fa and Typhoon Cempaka formed in June 2021 brought extreme rainfall to China's inland region Henan province. Although the two typhoons did not penetrate the region directly, they caused huge economic and human losses," Tam said.

"These events point to climate change increasing the impact of typhoon-related hazards on inland regions."

Based on the high-resolution climate model projections, the study found that from 2075 to 2099 typhoons would strengthen by an average of 7.2 kilometers per hour and wind speeds will increase at the moment of landfall.

The projection also suggests that the average typhoon will last around five hours longer and travel 92 kilometers further inland - nearly doubling its overall destructive power.

"More Asian inland regions may be exposed to further severe typhoon-related hazards in the future as a result of climate change. Therefore, long-term planning to enhance disaster preparedness and resilience in these regions is essential," Tam said.

The study also found that the destructive power of typhoons had dramatically increased throughout the East and southeast Asia regions over the past 40 years.

Tam and weather researchers from Shenzhen analyzed typhoons and their impact from 1979 to 2016.

They found that a typhoon's lifespan after landfall extended by two to nine hours in the past 40 years and penetrated 30 to 190 km further inland.

The most significant increase of typhoons impacting inland areas occurred over Hanoi in Vietnam and the south China region.