TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipei has recorded higher temperatures compared to southern Taiwan, largely due to the heat island effect and its unique geological position as a basin, according to a recent weather study.
A study published by TCCIP, sponsored by the National Science and Technology Council, examined temperature data from six long-standing weather stations across Taiwan. The findings highlight that Taipei's daily maximum temperatures have markedly exceeded those of other regions in the country.
The six weather stations include those in Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, Hengchun, Hualien, and Taitung.
Between 1910 and 2020, the Taipei station reported a notably larger increase in the number of extremely hot days compared to the other stations. Specifically, Taipei experienced more than 30 days with temperatures of 36 C or higher in 2003, 2016, 2018, and 2020.
This phenomenon can be attributed to Taipei’s location in the Taipei Basin, a geological feature that contributes to heat retention. The heat island effect, intensified by the city's urbanization, has also exacerbated the rise in temperatures, according to the research.
Taiwan experienced its hottest summer in 2020, with an average temperature of 29.54 C from June 1 through Aug. 26. Notably, in July 2020, weather stations in Dawu Township (Taitung), Taipei, and Yushan (the highest peak in Taiwan at 3,845 m) recorded 40.2 C, 39.7 C, and 23.8 C, respectively.
The temperature trends observed in Taipei mirror global patterns, with annual average temperatures not dropping below 24.2 C since 2015. Records for high temperatures have continued to be shattered between 2015 and 2020.
