The Hindu Editorial Analysis- 31st May 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Reign of Fire 

Why in News?

The Mungeshpur weather station in Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 52.9 degree Celsius, an all-time record for any location in India. 

However, later, in an update, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) clarified that the record-breaking temperature was an error in sensor or local factor. The IMD is currently examining the data and sensors to verify the accuracy of the recorded temperature.

Temperature Anomaly in Delhi

• Maximum temperatures in Delhi NCR varied from 45.2°C to 49.1°C across different parts of the city.
• The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) operates 20 weather stations in Delhi, 15 of which are automatic weather stations (AWS) that record and transmit weather parameters without human intervention.
• Mungeshpur reported an unusually high temperature of 52.9°C, which the IMD stated could be due to a sensor error or specific local factors.
• Contributing factors to the high temperatures in Delhi include a rain deficit, clear skies, and westerly winds from Rajasthan where temperatures reached 50°C. This period is also known for intense heating across northwest India, including Delhi-NCR.
• The IMD forecasts a reduction in heatwave conditions over the next 2-3 days due to a gradual fall in temperature associated with an approaching western disturbance, expected rainfall and thunderstorms, and southwesterly winds from the Arabian Sea to northwest India.

Why do temperatures vary from place to place within the same city?

• Temperatures in a region are primarily governed by weather, but anthropogenic factors significantly influence temperatures, especially in large urban centers like Delhi.
• Factors contributing to higher temperatures include the concentration of pavements, buildings, roads, and parking lots, which provide less shade and moisture.
• The materials used in infrastructure impact temperatures; concrete, for instance, can hold nearly 2,000 times as much heat as an equivalent volume of air, leading to warmer conditions.
• The geometry and spacing of buildings also play a role; densely populated areas with many buildings create large thermal masses and obstruct natural wind flows, hindering heat release and cooling.
• Narrow streets and tall buildings further obstruct wind flows, preventing natural cooling.
• Heavy use of air conditioners in shopping malls and residential areas releases significant amounts of heat outdoors, contributing to localized higher temperatures.
• These factors collectively lead to the creation of 'urban heat islands,' areas that experience higher temperatures compared to surrounding regions.
• The likelihood of a location becoming an urban heat island increases in the absence of trees, vegetation, and water bodies, as natural landscapes provide shade and cooling through transpiration and evaporation processes.

How temperature records are tumbling across the world?

• Global Temperature Records

  • United Kingdom: Crossed 40°C for the first time ever in July 2022.
  • China: A small town in the northwest recorded 52°C last year, the highest ever for the country.
  • Italy: Sicily recorded 48.8°C in 2021, the highest ever in Europe.
  • United States: The highest temperature recorded anywhere on Earth is 56.7°C in Death Valley, California, in 1913.

  Carbon Brief Study Report

  • A study by Carbon Brief indicated that nearly 40% of the Earth recorded its highest-ever daily temperature between 2013 and 2023, including places in Antarctica.

  Global Warming Trends

  • The year 2024 was predicted to be extremely warm, continuing the trend of the previous year, which was the warmest on record globally.

  Warming in India

  • Temperature Rise: Warming over India is less pronounced than globally, with annual mean temperatures rising by about 0.7°C since 1900, compared to the 1.59°C rise for average land temperatures worldwide.
  • Global Average: Including oceans, global temperatures are at least 1.1°C higher than pre-industrial levels.
  • Heatwaves: Despite the lesser overall warming, heatwaves in India are becoming more severe, with heatwave conditions occurring even in February 2023, a winter month typically not associated with heatwaves.