The relationship between the Southern Ocean and the climate of East Asia is often overlooked. However, a recent study published in Nature Geoscience reveals that rising ocean temperatures in the distant Southern Ocean could be the key to understanding wetter summers in the region, including the Korean Peninsula.
Dr. Sara Kang of the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology in Germany and Dr. Hanjoon Kim of Cornell University led the research, which explores how warming in the Southern Ocean is altering weather patterns far beyond Antarctica.
The study identifies a long-distance climate relationship known as “teleconnection,” through which heat from the Southern Ocean travels toward the equator via southeasterly winds. This warmth interacts with the atmosphere and ocean, amplifying warming in the tropical Pacific by causing low-level clouds to dissipate.
- Low-level clouds that dissipate due to warming in the Southern Ocean
- Heat absorption capacity in deep waters declining
- Southeasterly winds transporting heat from the Southern Ocean
These changes have significant impacts on the Asian summer jet stream, causing it to shift southward and leading to increased moisture in the East Asian monsoon system. This results in more humid and rain-heavy summers for countries like South Korea and others in the East Asian monsoon belt. The study also noted that this tropical Pacific warming pattern contributes to increased winter rainfall in the western United States by altering atmospheric circulation.
| Region | Effect |
| East Asia | More humid and rain-heavy summers |
| U.S. West Coast | Increased winter rainfall |
As the researchers explain, the tropical Pacific warming pattern is a result of the “teleconnection” between the Southern Ocean and the equator, where heat travels from the Southern Ocean via southeasterly winds and interacts with the atmosphere and ocean.
“This is a reminder that climate change’s ripple effects can unfold over centuries,” said Dr. Sara Kang. “Long-term adaptation strategies must account for these global interconnections, even if emissions are curbed.”
The study highlights the importance of considering the global interconnections in climate change, as even with successful global climate mitigation efforts, regions like East Asia and the U.S. West Coast will continue to face long-term climatic impacts. The impact of climate change is not limited to a single region, but rather has far-reaching effects on the global climate system.
The researchers warn that the changes outlined in the study will occur over centuries, as the Southern Ocean continues to warm due to declining heat absorption capacity in deep waters.
However, the study’s findings have significant implications for climate policy and decision-making, particularly in regions like East Asia and the U.S. West Coast.
Regional adaptation strategies are crucial to mitigating the impacts of climate change.
As the climate continues to change, it is essential to consider the complex relationships between the Southern Ocean and the global climate system, as well as the potential impacts on regions like East Asia and the U.S.
