Record breaking temperatures in Japan have left more than 4,500 people hospitalized in the past week. Many more have been urged to conserve energy in case of power shortages.
In Tokyo, temperatures have exceeded 95 degrees Fahrenheit for more than eight days, and have reached above 100 degrees in some areas. This has happened only once since 1875, when officials started tracking temperatures. In Isesaki, a temperature of 104 degrees broke the record for the highest recorded temperature in Japan.
June to mid-July is a typically rainy season for Japan. But on Monday, the Japan Meteorological Agency announced a 22-day early end to the rainy season, the earliest end since 1951. The rainy season only lasted for three weeks.
Cases of heat stroke—and, in some cases, death—have surged. Over 4,500 people have been hospitalized due to the extreme heat, most commonly people aged 65 or above, as they are the most vulnerable to above-normal heat.
On Tuesday, Japanese officials told residents to reduce energy consumption in case of power shortages. They urged residents keep their air conditioners running for safety reasons, but to reduce other energy consumption.
“Most of the lights in my office are off,” Yuriko Koike, the governor of Tokyo, said on Friday, Officials have also suggested that residents turn up the temperature of their refrigerators.
Japan’s energy supply depends heavily on liquified natural gas, which makes it vulnerable to power shortages. It has relied less on nuclear power since the Fukushima meltdown in 2011. It has also reduced coal consumption in an effort to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
“The heat is expected to be reduced next week, and the power demand will also be less,” Japan’s Ministry of Economy said.
Heat waves and extreme weather have become more common due to climate change. The world’s temperature has risen by around 1.1 degrees Celsius since the beginning of the industrial revolution, and will continue to do so unless a collective effort is put into slowing it down.
Sources:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/06/29/japan-heat-wave-record-weather-tokyo
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-61976937
https://www.npr.org/2022/06/27/1107748722/tokyo-warned-of-power-crunch-as-japan-endures-heat-wave
In Tokyo, temperatures have exceeded 95 degrees Fahrenheit for more than eight days, and have reached above 100 degrees in some areas. This has happened only once since 1875, when officials started tracking temperatures. In Isesaki, a temperature of 104 degrees broke the record for the highest recorded temperature in Japan.
June to mid-July is a typically rainy season for Japan. But on Monday, the Japan Meteorological Agency announced a 22-day early end to the rainy season, the earliest end since 1951. The rainy season only lasted for three weeks.
Cases of heat stroke—and, in some cases, death—have surged. Over 4,500 people have been hospitalized due to the extreme heat, most commonly people aged 65 or above, as they are the most vulnerable to above-normal heat.
On Tuesday, Japanese officials told residents to reduce energy consumption in case of power shortages. They urged residents keep their air conditioners running for safety reasons, but to reduce other energy consumption.
“Most of the lights in my office are off,” Yuriko Koike, the governor of Tokyo, said on Friday, Officials have also suggested that residents turn up the temperature of their refrigerators.
Japan’s energy supply depends heavily on liquified natural gas, which makes it vulnerable to power shortages. It has relied less on nuclear power since the Fukushima meltdown in 2011. It has also reduced coal consumption in an effort to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
“The heat is expected to be reduced next week, and the power demand will also be less,” Japan’s Ministry of Economy said.
Heat waves and extreme weather have become more common due to climate change. The world’s temperature has risen by around 1.1 degrees Celsius since the beginning of the industrial revolution, and will continue to do so unless a collective effort is put into slowing it down.
Sources:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/06/29/japan-heat-wave-record-weather-tokyo
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-61976937
https://www.npr.org/2022/06/27/1107748722/tokyo-warned-of-power-crunch-as-japan-endures-heat-wave
