Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Japan reveals new name for 40C-and-hotter days after blistering summer
Japan's summer is extremely humid, often 75%–90% humidity, due to warm,
moist air masses from the Pacific Ocean and Southeast Asia, as well as a
post-rainy season effect. Also, summer in cities is so intense because of
concrete and air conditioning, which keeps temperatures high even during the
night, the urban heat island effect. And it is becoming even hotter due to
global warming. Last year, Japan experienced a record-breaking hot summer. Daytime
temperatures exceeded 35 °C for 52 days in Kyoto and 25 days in Tokyo. The
Japan Meteorological Agency, JMA, uses hot day terminologies, Extremely Hot Day
for days of 35°C or above, Midsummer Day for 30°C or above, and Summer Day for
25°C or above. Now, to prepare for an even hotter summer, JMA added a new term,
Cruelly Hot (Kokusho-bi), for days of 40°C or above. Though the new term won’t ease
Japan’s already hot summer, it at least warns people how brutal the day is going
to be. Japan’s weather news often advises people to turn on the air
conditioning and stay indoors on Extremely Hot Days (35°C+). What will they say
on Kokusho-bi?
Read the article and learn how Japan describes an unbearably hot summer
day.
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