A study conducted by Calcutta University and Vidyasagar University jointly measures the effect of heat in the central areas of the city. The total amount of UHI growth has been 44.6sqkm over the last three decades, with an urban expansion of 28.7sqkm.
Wet bulb temperature is simply the lowest temperature that the human body can cool down to after evaporating all the moisture that its surroundings allow it to. The lower it is, the more easily the human body can cool itself down through perspiration; when high it can lead to various issues including death in extreme cases.
Rising heat and its impacts on climate, ecosystems and urban livelihood have gathered enough attention during the last few decades, so much that institutions started long term planning, analysis and policy making. But, this phenomenon of extreme heat situations and their consequences are new and poorly understood, and worse, they have been growing in intensity and frequency for over the last few decades.
India is breaking records again, but these new highs are no reason to celebrate! People living in India's northern and central regions are experiencing severe heat waves. The temperature in Delhi crossed 45 degrees celsius, while UP’s Banda district registered a record high temperature of 49 degrees celsius. Although, high temperatures are typical in April and May, this year’s temperatures are unprecedented. India is witnessing its hottest summer in 122 years. Climate experts are pointing towards compound events as the major reason behind the increased frequency of heatwaves in the past few years. A compound event is one where two or more weather events which may not be necessarily dangerous occur together to create severe impacts. The heatwaves result from the compounding effect of global warming, weather pattern changes and existing weather cycles. An IPCC report released in August 2021 warned India might experience more frequent heatwaves. This was confirmed by a recent report by NASA which observed urban ‘heat islands’ in the Delhi NCR region. Although concrete is considered a good material for construction, it is notoriously known for absorbing and reflecting large amounts of heat. These concrete structures create heat islands that aggravate the impact of heatwaves where even the nights seem to offer no relief to the common people. While Delhi and its neighbouring areas recorded night time temperatures of 35 degrees celsius, the rural fields cooled off to 15 degrees celsius. The major differentiating factor was the lack of green spaces in urban areas.
The risk of heatwaves is likely to increase ten times during the twenty-first century with over approximately 70% of India’s land to be influenced by these heat waves covering magnitudes greater than 9.
The national capital is reeling under incessant rain from the delayed monsoon. It is after monsoon in 2010 that Delhi and nearby areas have received more than 1000 mm rainfall.
Vietnam recently recorded its highest-ever temperature of 44.1C (111.38F) at the Hoi Xuan station in Thanh Hoa province, surpassing the previous record of 43.4C set in 2019. Experts have attributed the extreme weather condition to global warming, and the country’s population has been advised to stay indoors during the hottest periods of the day.
South Asia, particularly India, is increasingly being recognized as a global hotspot for climate change impacts, with heat waves becoming a major concern. In 2022, Pakistan, northwest, and northern India experienced the devastating effects of heat waves, followed by eastern and northeastern India and Bangladesh in 2023.
Europe is experiencing the effects of climate change at an alarming rate, with multiple countries recording their warmest year on record in 2022. The State of the Climate in Europe 2022 report, jointly released by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service, highlights the devastating consequences of accelerated heating on the region's socio-economic fabric and ecosystems.
Earth's average temperature has remained at a record high for the third day in a row, adding to a growing list of climate-change-driven extremes. The University of Maine's Climate Reanalyzer, which utilizes satellite data and computer simulations to assess global conditions, reported that the average global temperature reached 17.18 degrees Celsius (62.9 degrees Fahrenheit) on Wednesday. This matched the previous day's record, and both surpassed the record of 17.01 degrees Celsius (62.6 degrees Fahrenheit) set just two days earlier on Monday.
The stunning Grossglockner High Alpine Road in Austria, known for its breathtaking views and the majestic Pasterze glacier, is experiencing the visible impacts of climate change. Herbert Hoegl and his wife, who have been visiting the area for two decades, have witnessed the significant retreat of the Pasterze glacier. What was once easily accessible for visitors is now 100-150 meters further away, highlighting the glacier's alarming melt.
A scorching heatwave has gripped Europe, with nearly all major Italian cities under red heat alerts as temperatures continue to rise. The extreme heat is a result of a high-pressure system bringing warmer, tropical air to the continent south of a stagnant jet stream over central Europe. As a result, wildfires are spreading across the continent, with Greece and the Swiss Alps also affected. Millions of people in the northern hemisphere are experiencing soaring temperatures, and the situation is particularly dire in southern Europe.
1 Java Street, a new residential building in Brooklyn, New York, is set to become the largest multifamily development in the state—and potentially the country—to utilize a cutting-edge geothermal heating and cooling system. Developed by Lendlease, the 834-rental apartment building aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and reduce carbon output by around 55%. Geothermal technology harnesses the Earth's stable temperature below ground to efficiently cool and heat the building spaces and water without relying on traditional HVAC systems and natural gas.
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Technology is a useful servant, but a dangerous master, it was rightly said. Electronic devices have grown into an inevitable part of our daily lives.