2018

Author(s): Li DH, Zhou TJ, Zou LW, Zhang WX, Zhang LX

Extreme high-temperature events have large socioeconomic and human health impacts. East Asia (EA) is a populous region, and it is crucial to assess the changes in extreme high-temperature events in this region under different climate change scenarios. The Community Earth System Model low-warming experiment data were applied to investigate the changes in the mean and extreme high temperatures in EA under 1.5 degrees C and 2 degrees C warming conditions above preindustrial levels. The results show that the magnitude of warming in EA is approximately 0.2 degrees C higher than the global mean. Most populous subregions, including eastern China, the Korean Peninsula, and Japan, will see more intense, more frequent, and longer-lasting extreme temperature events under 1.5 degrees C and 2 degrees C warming. The 0.5 degrees C lower warming will help avoid 35%-46% of the increases in extreme high-temperature events in terms of intensity, frequency, and duration in EA with maximal avoidance values (37%-49%) occurring in Mongolia. Thus, it is beneficial for EA to limit the warming target to 1.5 degrees C rather than 2 degrees C.

Journal: Geophysical Research Letters