At 8:55 a.m. on November 11, NASA’s EPIC (Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera) imager on the DSCOVR (Deep Space Climate Observatory) satellite observed four cyclones that were either approaching the Philippines or had already passed over the country. NASA

MANILA — As Filipinos lament the string of storms simultaneously battering the Philippines, an atmospheric scientist on Saturday said that each cyclone can create conditions that are conducive for another one to form.

Speaking on Teleradyo Serbisyo, Dr. Gerry Bagtasa explained that cyclones are not "independent" of each other.

"'Yung naunang bagyo 'yung gumawa ng environment para mabuo 'yung susunod na bagyo. Hindi sila totally independent from one another. In many instances, because of the unang bagyo kaya nagkakaroon ng second," he said.

(The first storm creates an environment for the creation of the next cyclone. They are not totally independent from one another. In many instances, the second storm happens because of the first one.)

Bagtasa is anatmospheric physicistfrom the UP Diliman College of Science Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology (IESM).

He emphasized that the first cyclone that would hit land will "clear a lane" for the next storm to pass through if it develops.

NASA has already noted that the series of typhoons lining up in the western Pacific and hitting the Philippines is unusual.

Bagtasa explained that while storms existing in the Philippines at the same time is rare, the country has already experienced consecutive cyclones before.

"Nangyayari 'yung sunod-sunod. Hindi necessary na pare-pareho silang nandiyan kasi [like now] na for the first time in recorded history, apat sabay-sabay nag-eexist," he stated

(Consecutive storms happen. Not necessarily like now where first time in the history, four cyclones exist simultaneously.)

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Recalling the onslaught of typhoons Rolly, Quinta, and Ulysses in 2020, he said: "Maraming pagkakataon kasi na kapag may nabuong (bagyo), 'yung susunod niya lumilihis. Pero ito almost the same sa impact."

(There are various cases that when a storm is formed, the next one strays away. But this time, the impact of the storms is almost the same.)

LA NIÑA, CLIMATE CHANGE

Bagtasa said the warm seas and the La Niña-like climate help storms form.

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"'Yung init ng karagatan dito, around the Philippines, it's like La Niña. In fact worse than La Niña. Hindi lang natin masabi na La Niña kasi 'di ganoon kalamig 'yung tubig sa kabilang side ng Pacific. Pero kung init pag-uusapan yes, and 'yung potential ng pagbuo ng bagyo—isa dito ay init," he explained.

(The warm sea around the Philippines,it's like La Niña. In fact worse than La Niña. We can't just say it is La Niña since the water at the opposite side of Pacific isn't cold. But if we're gonna talk about warmness yes, and the potential to create storms—one of these is warmness.)

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"Number One 'yung init ng karagatan, Two 'yung pagkawala ng wind shear."

(Number one is warm sea, second the loss of wind shear.)

Bagtasa added that the "high pressure" area above the storm could likely be an effect of climate change. The high pressure prevents a cyclone from going up, hence pushing it westwards and hitting parts of the Philippines.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. already warned the country to prepare for the effects of climate change amidst massive rains and flood earlier this year.

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