Why is north and central India facing a severe heatwave? | Explained Premium
The Hindu
Heatwave Crisis: A study published in May 2024 found that urbanisation alone has led to an overall 60% enhancement in warming in Indian cities.
The story so far: At least five people in Bihar’s Aurangabad city reportedly died on Thursday due to a sunstroke, news agency Reuters reported. Parts of north and central India continued to reel under a severe heatwave on Thursday, even as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted a gradual fall in temperature over the next five days. On Wednesday, an automatic weather station in Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 52.9 degrees Celsius, the highest temperature on record in the capital. The IMD, however, said that this could be due to “an error in sensor or local factors”, since the recorded temperature was an outlier. The IMD is said that it is examining the data and sensors.
Ten more people were reported dead government hospital in Odisha’s Rourkela region on Thursday due to the heat. A 40-year-old labourer in Delhi died due to a heatstroke (a condition in which the body temperature increases beyond 40 degrees C) on Thursday, The Indian Express reported. Despite these reports, it must be noted that heat-related deaths are widely underreported.
As per the IMD report released Friday afternoon, maximum temperatures in northwest and central India are predicted to fall gradually by 2-3 degrees C in the next three days.
Maximum temperatures on Thursday in most parts of Delhi, Haryana, and Chandigarh, as well as large parts of Rajasthan, and isolated pockets over eastern Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odisha were recorded in the range of 45-48 degrees C.
Parts of western Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and coastal Andhra Pradesh, and isolated pockets over Gujarat, Telangana, and Rayalaseema recorded maximum temperatures in the range of 42-45 degrees C.
Some experts believe that post El Niño warming has contributed to higher-than-usual temperatures in north India this year.
El Niño and La Niña are atmospheric patterns that influence the warming and the cooling of sea surface temperatures in the Central and Equatorial Pacific. The two opposing patterns occur in an irregular cycle called the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle, with a neutral period in between.
Genetically modified crops offer sustainable solutions to food production challenges, but long-term effects on health and environment remain uncertain.
An unusual cluster of typhoons in the West Pacific and a series of powerful hurricanes in the Atlantic are raising questions about the impact that climate change is having on tropical storms across the globe.
Experience Lucknow's culinary heritage at Khaas, a North Indian restaurant in Chennai offering authentic kebabs and biryanis.
We know birds, animals and insects constantly communicate with each other by making certain sounds. But when we think about plants, we do not ever think of them communicating. Charles Darwin, an eminent biologist, thought otherwise. Plants might appear the quiet, silent and solitary type of organisms but they have a complex way of communicating which is interesting and important for their survival.
Flight six of Starship was seen as a test of whether SpaceX’s first booster catch was pure precision or relied on a stroke of luck.
Discover the fascinating science behind how a pencil writes, from carbon atoms to condensed matter physics explained concisely.
North American cicadas have life cycles that last for prime numbers of years, putting pressure on the idea that humans created mathematics.
Stationary objects balance on a wide base due to gravity, while moving vehicles balance due to forward force.
The Ministry of Defence expects the MoA to enable the two organisations to access testing facilities available with each other for mutual benefit.
Research has uncovered the transmission of pathogens between managed honey bees and wild pollinators, a process called pathogen spillover and spillback
Podcasts have become our best friends, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. Whether you are cooking, sketching or going on an evening walk, there is a show that matches your mood. From horror tales to informative conversations to just two friends talking about anything & everything relatable, podcasts have become a part of our lives unknowingly. Over the years, more voices have joined this audio landscape and filled it with stories that resonate with our lives. Podcasts serve as a reminder that everyone has a story worth telling and listening to!