Thanks to
BBC Climate Centre article
Asian monsoon's range of devastation for explaining a bit of the science behind the catastrophic
Fires & Floods in Russia and South Asia...
"...the jet stream of fast-moving air in the upper atmosphere has exacerbated conditions this year. [...] The jet stream divides cooler polar air and warmer subtropical air. A larger than usual kink in its path dragged warm air from the south across Russia. This resulted in a prolonged heatwave, drought and forest fires. [...] Normally, the jet stream would remain north of the monsoon region. But this year's kink meant more moist air than usual was sucked up. The effect passed in days, but the extra rain at the start of the season caused severe floods."
The net result is that the...
"Asian monsoon has brought unusually high levels of rain to the region, with catastrophic consequences in countries from Pakistan and India to North Korea and China."
P.S. Alternative (or additional) explanations include
emphasizing the role of the El Niño <=> La Niña oscillation.
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