Though not remarkable, the very high temperatures that have been reported in New Delhi over the last few days are noteworthy. Numerous catastrophic weather disasters that have occurred recently around the world have brought attention to how severe climate change is becoming.
Delhi is now one of the places with record-breaking temperatures, frequently reaching 50 degrees Celsius. The highest recorded temperature in India on Wednesday, May 29, is said to have been 52.9 degrees Celsius in several areas of Delhi.
However, Delhi isn’t alone in facing extreme heat. In July 2022, the United Kingdom witnessed temperatures surpassing 40 degrees Celsius for the first time. A small town in northwest China recorded 52 degrees Celsius last year, the highest ever for the country. In 2021, Sicily in Italy recorded 48.8 degrees Celsius, the highest ever for Europe.
Another alarming incident occurred in Iran last July, when temperatures reached an unprecedented 66 degrees Celsius due to a spike in the heat index. Iran declared public holidays in response to this “unprecedented heat” and advised the elderly and those with health conditions to stay indoors.
What is heat index?
The heat index, often referred to as the “feels-like” temperature, combines air temperature and relative humidity to estimate the human-perceived temperature. High humidity levels impede the body’s ability to cool itself through sweating, making the heat feel much more intense. A heat index of 66 degrees Celsius is life-threatening, exceeding the thresholds that the human body can endure for extended periods.
What about Delhi?
According to Kuldeep Srivastava, regional head of India Meteorological Department (IMD), the already high temperature in Delhi broke record because of hot winds from Rajasthan.
“Parts of Delhi are particularly susceptible to the early arrival of these hot winds, worsening the already severe weather. Areas like Mungeshpur, Narela and Najafgarh are the first to experience the full force of these hot winds,” Mr Srivastava said. Mungeshpur in northwest Delhi is the place where 52.9 degrees Celsius was reportedly recorded.
The Iran shocker
The extraordinary temperature at Persian Gulf international airport was termed “unsafe for Human Survival”.Weather experts said the temperature reached 40 Degrees Celsius in the region, with a relative humidity of 65 per cent, according to NOAA data. This created an apparent temperature of 66.7 degrees Celsius.
Are these a result of climate change?
The year 2024 was forecasted to be exceptionally warm. Last year set a record as the warmest year globally, a trend expected to continue this year—and it has not failed. Climate change has emerged as a critical global issue, with rising temperatures being a major consequence. The Earth’s climate is experiencing unprecedented changes mainly due to human activities, especially the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Activities like burning fossil fuels, deforestation, industrial processes, and agricultural practices have led to the accumulation of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. This accumulation creates a greenhouse effect, trapping heat in the Earth’s atmosphere and causing a steady rise in the planet’s average temperature over the past century.
Climate change disrupts traditional weather patterns, leading to more frequent and intense heatwaves, prolonged droughts, and other extreme weather events. As temperatures rise, phenomena such as melting ice caps and increased evaporation further exacerbate warming, creating a feedback loop that intensifies climate impacts.
The warming over India is less pronounced than the global average. Annual mean temperatures in India have risen by about 0.7 degrees Celsius since 1900, significantly lower than the 1.59 degrees Celsius increase in global land temperatures. Including oceans, global temperatures are currently at least 1.1 degrees Celsius higher than pre-industrial averages.
Nevertheless, heatwaves in India are becoming increasingly severe. In 2023, heatwave conditions were observed even in February, a winter month typically not associated with such conditions.
The current high temperatures in Delhi and most of North India appear anomalous compared to the normal temperatures based on the 1981-2010 averages. Moving forward, temperatures exceeding 45 degrees Celsius are likely to become the new normal, and readings of 50 degrees Celsius will no longer seem unusual.
