Ever since the Habagat event of 2012 whenever there is a storm system one of the first questions I am asked is : will this enhance the habagat (Hahatakin ba nito ang habagat?). The thing is the habagat is not something that gets enhanced or pulled in, despite what they tell you. The habagat is a climate phenomenon that is not exactly enhanced by a typhoon. Rather the monsoon is what encourages or represses the development of a cyclone. The monsoon is a seasonal state of wind and moisture conditions. During a summer monsoon there is increased moisture in the atmosphere, it is this moisture that may be pulled in. So the correct way to say it would be: will the typhoon pull in moisture that is in the atmosphere due to the state of the monsoon. Besides, we have now exited the period of the southwest monsoon. The Indian monsoon (which is what is traditionally the SW monsoon) has ended (with a deficit in rain). So that is over, there is no need to ask anymore if a cyclone will pull in the habagat because the habagat is over. But is there water vapor in the SW? Yes. Can it be pulled in by a cyclone still? Yes, if is plentiful enough and if the system is strong enough. We are also in the peak of the Western North Pacific monsoonal period (which means this is when our typhoon season in the Philippines peaks) and it is the time (October and November) when we have the greatest number of landfalling typhoons. The Asian Summer Monsoon is over and the Asian Winter Monsoon is beginning. Cant you smell the difference in the air? Its already nippy outside. If youre attuned to the changes in the climate you will know that the habagat is gone and the amihan is coming in now. So one should stop obsessing about what they call enhancing the habagat because its really a misapplication of the phrase. It would be better to say pulling in moisture.
Posted on: Sun, 05 Oct 2014 11:48:48 +0000
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