TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The number of typhoons has decreased in recent years, and Taiwan was fortunate to avoid any landfall for three consecutive years.
According to research by Nature, scientists have observed a 13% decrease in the annual number of typhoons, hurricanes, and tropical storms or cyclones, attributed to global warming since the 20th century.
Nevertheless, there's a concerning trend — the number of powerful typhoons is rising.
"Under the influence of global warming, the number of typhoons is obviously decreasing, but the number of particularly strong typhoons is increasing," Professor Emeritus at the National Taiwan University Atmospheric Sciences, Chou Chung-tao, said.
Experts explain that while El Niño and La Niña have little impact on the total number of typhoons in the Northwest Pacific Ocean or those making landfall in Taiwan, they can influence where storms form and how they move.
"The results of the study on global warming show that the Pacific high-pressure system that guides typhoons would gradually move eastward," Wu Sheng-yu, a weather analyst at WeatherRisk, said. "That is, towards the middle of the Pacific Ocean."
Looking ahead, scientists believe that climate change will lead to even more potent typhoon threats.
Over the weekend, another typhoon, Khanun, strengthened into a moderate storm. Though the probability of it directly approaching Taiwan is slim, it could still bring unstable weather to the island, and Taiwan must prepare for its potential impact.
