Sweltering heat, flash floods, 'disappearing' spring season — India's weather story so far in 2024
The Hindu
Extreme weather events in 2024 prompt questions about climate change, with record-breaking temperatures and natural disasters across India.
Sweltering heatwave in north India that have caused scores of deaths, floods and landslides in the northeast that have affected lakhs of people, a spring season that suggests it could soon "disappear" from the calendar — extreme weather events in the first five months of 2024 have got everyone questioning: where is all this headed?
Despite having made predictions to this effect, climate scientists acknowledge that the temperatures this summer, including the outlier 52.9° Celsius in Delhi, are "alarming, though not surprising".
"This could be the worst summer in the last 120 years, at least for north India. Never have temperatures gone so high — more than 45-47° Celsius — for such a vast region, which is also densely populated. This is a record in itself," Vimal Mishra, Vikram Sarabhai Chair Professor, Civil Engineering and Earth Sciences, IIT Gandhinagar, told PTI.
The temperatures, "similar to those in Africa's Sahara desert," are "far beyond expectations" by at least three or four degrees, according to Mr. Mishra.
Earth system scientist Raghu Murtugudde, professor at IIT-Bombay, told PTI this was due to the combined effect of multiple phenomena — climate change, El Nino and the water vapour released by Tonga's Hunga Tonga volcanic eruption in January 2022.
El Nino causes a warming of the sea surface temperatures, affecting the world's weather.
"The Middle East is getting hotter very fast because the desert traps the heat during global warming — warmer atmosphere is more humid and water vapour is a greenhouse gas," Mr. Murtugudde said.
Communist Party leader Muneer Katipalla was chosen unopposed as the secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) Dakshina Kannada district unit in the recently concluded district meet in Mangaluru.
Jharkhand reaffirms faith in INDIA alliance with pro-people governance, as Telangana Deputy CM expresses gratitude for historic mandate.
NDA sweeps Bihar bypolls with 52.83% voter turnout, defeating opposition parties, including Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj party.
Stakeholders in Mysuru propose long-term development plans, emphasizing heritage preservation, urban planning, and industrial growth.
Supreme Court judge emphasises the need for improved infrastructure in district judiciary for efficient justice delivery system.
Discussion on forming 'Greater Mysuru City Corporation' for integrated development and improved civic amenities in Mysuru.
Yadgir district's education sector challenges discussed in Karnataka Development Programme meeting, highlighting issues and proposed solutions.
IIT-Hyderabad Runners' Club will organise a grand half marathon on December 1, with multiple categories for all levels.
Collector Sridhar Cherukuri engages with public during 'Palle Nidra' initiative, interacts with school, village secretariat, and SHG members.
“Kaavi Kale is a method-based art without rigid forms, allowing for diverse artistic influences,” said Janardhan Rao Havanje, an artist and researcher in Kaavi Kale on Friday.
The National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), which is an instrumentality of the State, has to conduct itself as a model employer and has to be considerate while treating the claims of women employees for maternity and child care leave (CCL), said the High Court of Karnataka.