La Nina’s Impact on Vietnam
La Nina, a significant climate phenomenon, is set to make a comeback in the latter half of 2024. After a year of experiencing the strong effects of El Nino, the world will now face the emergence of La Nina, according to the latest update from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
El Nino, which means “the boy” in Spanish, has caused hot and dry weather in Asia and unprecedented rainfall and floods in various parts of the Americas during the 2023-2024 period. In contrast, La Nina, which means “the girl” in Spanish, refers to the periodic cooling of the ocean surface temperatures in the equatorial and eastern Pacific. La Nina events typically occur every 3 to 5 years, but sometimes they can happen consecutively for several years.
La Nina has global implications for weather patterns, ecosystems, and economies. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), both El Nino and La Nina can have a worldwide impact. Specifically, La Nina can lead to more intense and frequent storms in the Pacific, while regions in the Americas may experience droughts and hotter temperatures. As for the global temperature, although La Nina tends to cool it down, it cannot counteract the overall warming trend caused mainly by human-induced climate change.
Furthermore, La Nina creates favorable conditions for marine life. The cooler waters and increased nutrient content offshore in the Pacific attract more marine species, such as squid and salmon, to places like the California coast in the United States.
In the context of Vietnam, the presence of La Nina can lead to an increase in tropical storms and typhoons, particularly affecting the central and southern regions. These areas are likely to experience heavier rainfall and more frequent flooding. Past La Nina periods, such as 1998-2000, 2007-2008, 2010-2011, and 2020-2022, have brought significant damage to Vietnam. For example, the 38-day cold spell in January-February 2008 caused extensive damage to rice crops and livestock, with estimated losses reaching 400 billion Vietnamese dong.
The La Nina period from 2020 to 2022 also resulted in severe impacts. In 2020 alone, the country witnessed 14 storms, 120 flash floods and landslides, and 265 thunderstorms, causing 357 fatalities and over 39,960 billion Vietnamese dong in damages. In 2022, natural disasters claimed the lives of 175 people, causing economic losses of nearly 19,500 billion Vietnamese dong.
Despite the challenges posed by La Nina, it is essential to note that accurate weather forecasting and disaster preparedness measures can help mitigate its impact. With proper planning and proactive measures, Vietnam can minimize the potential damage from future La Nina events.
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