2013 one of hottest years

MANILA, Philippines – 2013 is one of the hottest years on record, the World Meteorological Organization says. But aside from experiencing warmer temperatures, what does that mean for us? 

KD Suarez reports.

The World Meteorological Organization says the past year was among the warmest years on record.

2013 was the 6th warmest year since 1850, and the 4th hottest without the El Niño phenomenon. The planet’s surface temperatures were above average compared to the averages from the past decades. Climate scientists say this shows an underlying trend: The Earth is getting warmer.

GEMMA NARISMA, PH.D., REGIONAL CLIMATE SYSTEMS, MANILA OBSERVATORY: The global warming is something that translates into climatic changes. That’s where the connection is. When the world warms up, there will be changes in the climate that includes changes in extreme weather events.

But a warmer planet doesn’t just mean we’ll be sweltering in the heat. Extreme heat and cold will likely be more common – symptoms of a planet falling ill.

GEMMA NARISMA, PH.D., REGIONAL CLIMATE SYSTEMS, MANILA OBSERVATORY: The planet is having a temperature. Because you get complications. And you don’t just get high fever; certain systems in your body will shut down. And when those systems shut down, then your whole functioning of your body, nag-iba na. (And when those systems shut down, then your whole functioning of your body changes). And that’s where scientists are right now. If you have a globally warmer world, what systems will shut down?

It’s bad news for the Philippines.

Extreme weather events, such as Super Typhoon Yolanda, might become more frequent. Although the connection between super typhoons and global warming is still being studied, science points towards that link.

GEMMA NARISMA, PH.D., REGIONAL CLIMATE SYSTEMS, MANILA OBSERVATORY: Modeling studies also show that warmer sea temperatures do feed that formation and strengthening of tropical cyclones. In fact, that’s one of the reasons that scientists believe that there’s likelihood that typhoons will be stronger because of the warmer seas.

For a population always bearing the brunt of storms and extreme weather events, the best defense is education, preparation, and adaptation.
KD Suarez, Rappler, Manila. – Rappler.com