Japan sets a new record for the highest nationwide average temperature ever recorded in July.
Record-Breaking Heatwave in Japan: A Sign of Climate Change's Impact
Japan has been experiencing the harsh effects of climate change, with the July 2021 heatwave setting a new record as the hottest month on record, dating back to 1898. The month's average temperature was 2.89 degrees Celsius higher than the 1991-2020 average for July.
This severe heatwave, attributed to human-caused climate change, has brought unprecedented temperatures. On July 30, Japan experienced its highest recorded temperature of 41.2 degrees Celsius in the western region of Hyogo. Precipitation was low over wide areas of Japan, with northern regions facing the Sea of Japan experiencing record low rainfall.
The Japan Meteorological Agency reported these findings on July 30, 2021. The famous snowcap of Mount Fuji, a symbol of Japan, was absent for the longest recorded period last year. This year, Mount Fuji's snowcap did not appear until early November, compared with the average of early October.
The early blooming of cherry trees and the late appearance of Mount Fuji's snowcap are potential effects of the warmer climate in Japan. Sometimes, the warmer climate prevents cherry trees from fully blossoming because autumns and winters are not cold enough to trigger flowering.
Climate change is causing heatwaves to become more intense and frequent worldwide. In Japan, heatwaves have increased approximately 3.3 times compared to the preceding 20 years since 2000. This trend is linked to broader shifts in Japan’s weather patterns, causing more extreme and prolonged heat events that directly affect human health, agriculture, and natural phenomena such as cherry blossoms and the environment around Mount Fuji.
The severe heatwave has already caused practical challenges such as threatening Japan’s rice harvest with heat-induced drought and pest surges, affecting food security. Heatwaves have also resulted in tens of thousands of hospitalizations due to heatstroke, indicating severe public health strains.
Experts warn Japan's beloved cherry trees are blooming earlier due to the warmer climate. This shift can disrupt traditional cultural timing and affect tourism. In previous years, warming trends have advanced cherry blossom blooming by days or weeks, altering the seasonal rhythm famously celebrated in Japan.
The weather agency predicts severe heat will continue throughout Japan in the month ahead. Along with heatwaves, Japan experiences other intensified weather extremes such as floods. The escalation of these events causes greater unpredictability and hazard in Japan’s climate system. These shifts strain infrastructure and disaster response efforts, prompting Japan to leverage technology and long-standing meteorological monitoring to improve forecasting and preparedness.
Changes in seasonal weather patterns could also alter vegetation cycles and tourism patterns around Mount Fuji. Potential impacts include accelerated snowmelt and reduced snow cover on Mount Fuji, affecting water resources and ecological balance.
In summary, climate change is unequivocally increasing the frequency and intensity of heatwaves in Japan, disrupting weather patterns and natural phenomena. This leads to earlier cherry blossoms, risks to agriculture, increased health emergencies, and ecological challenges around landmarks like Mount Fuji. These effects exemplify the broader risks posed by global warming in a country already vulnerable to extreme natural hazards.
- The severe heatwaves in Japan, such as the one in July 2021, are a direct result of the impact of climate change on the environment, which is a concern within the field of environmental science.
- The intensification and frequency of heatwaves, including those in Japan, is a major concern in the field of science as it points to a broader shift in global weather patterns due to human-caused climate change.
