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दिल्ली की हवा और धरातल का तापमान बेसलाइन के औसत से अधिक : सीएसई

दिल्ली का हीट इंडेक्स (जिसे मौसम का 'रीयल फ़ील' भी कहा जाता है) 30.53 डिग्री सेल्सियस था जो बेसलाइन के आंकड़े 28.89 डिग्री सेल्सियस से अधिक था। इस साल मार्च और मई के बीच दिल्ली में वायु तथा धरातल का तापमान वर्ष 1981-2010 की बेसलाइन की तुलना में काफ़ी अधिक था और हीट इंडेक्स 2010-19 की सीमा से काफी ऊपर था। ये तथ्य सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (सीएसई) के एक अध्ययन में पाया गया है। "अर्बन हीट स्ट्रेस इन मेजर सिटीज ऑफ इंडिया: डेल्ही'' शीर्षक वाले अध्ययन में पाया गया कि इस वर्ष मार्च से मई तक (मानसून से पहले) देश की राजधानी के वायु का औसत तापमान 30.03 डिग्री सेल्सियस था जो कि 28.25 डिग्री सेल्सियस के 30 साल (1981-2010) के बेसलाइन से ज्यादा था जबकि भूमि की सतह का औसत तापमान (एलएसटी) इसकी बेसलाइन से 1.95 डिग्री सेल्सियस अधिक था। वहीं, दिल्ली का हीट इंडेक्स (जिसे मौसम का 'रीयल फील' भी कहा जाता है) 30.53 डिग्री सेल्सियस था जो बेसलाइन के आंकड़े 28.89 डिग्री सेल्सियस से अधिक था। राजधानी दिल्ली की बात करें तो बाहरी दिल्ली के नरेला, बवाना, फतेहपुर जट और दक्षिण-पूर्वी दिल्ली के बदरपुर में इस साल 14 मई को भूमि की सतह का उच्चतम तापमान 51.8 डिग्री सेल्सियस था। यह भी पाया गया कि पिछले आठ वर्षों में शहर के कुछ हिस्सों में भूमि की सतह का तापमान 53.9 डिग्री सेल्सियस तक पहुंच गया है। सीएसई के इस विश्लेषण में पूर्व-मानसून मौसम के दौरान दिल्ली के लिए गर्मी के पैटर्न में बदलाव का आकलन करते हुए, लैंड इमेजरी एंड थर्मल इंफ्रारेड सेंसर डेटा का विश्लेषण करने के लिए यूनाइटेड स्टेट्स जियोलॉजिकल सर्वे (यूएसजीएस) के EarthExplorer पोर्टल का इस्तेमाल किया। इसमें कहा गया है कि सामान्य तौर पर सबसे कम एलएसटी वाले क्षेत्र यमुना के किनारे और ओखला पक्षी अभयारण्य के पास थे। इस अध्ययन में इस साल प्री-मानसून अवधि के दौरान शहर भर में हीट इंडेक्स और हवा के तापमान में काफी अंतर पाया गया है जिससे यह पता चलता है कि आस-पड़ोस के क्षेत्र से छह डिग्री का अंतर है। राजधानी दिल्ली के चांदनी चौक में मौसमी वायु का तापमान सबसे ज्यादा दर्ज किया गया जिसका औसत तापमान 34.2 डिग्री सेल्सियस था वहीं अरबिंदो मार्ग 28.1 डिग्री सेल्सियस शहर का सबसे ठंडा स्थान था। हीट इंडेक्स के अनुसार सिरी फोर्ट में उच्चतम मौसमी औसत 38.2 डिग्री सेल्सियस दर्ज किया गया, इसके बाद चांदनी चौक में 36.8 डिग्री सेल्सियस दर्ज किया गया। शादीपुर (29.1 डिग्री सेल्सियस) और अरबिंदो मार्ग (29.6 डिग्री सेल्सियस) अलग अलग छोर पर है। इन दोनों जगहों पर सबसे कम एवरेज सीजनल हीट इंडेक्स रीडिंग दर्ज किया गया। इस अध्ययन के सह-लेखक तथा सीएसई के अर्बन लैब में सीनियर प्रोग्राम मैनेजर अविकल सोमवंशी ने मीडिया से बात करते हुए कहा कि, “समग्र तापमान विसंगति, अत्यधिक गर्मी की स्थिति तथा भारत के विभिन्न क्षेत्रों में गर्मी के पैटर्न में मिश्रित प्रवृत्तियों को समझना अप्रत्याशित जोखिम का आकलन करने के लिए आवश्यक हो गया है। वर्तमान में, मुख्य रूप से रोजाना की अधिकतम गर्मी के स्तर और गर्मी की लहरों की चरम स्थितियों पर ध्यान दिया जाता है, लेकिन इस समस्या की गंभीरता को समझने के लिए विभिन्न क्षेत्रों में बढ़ते समग्र तापमान और आर्द्रता के रुझान पर ध्यान देना भी उतना ही महत्वपूर्ण है।” सीएसई के रिसर्च एंड एडवोकेसी की कार्यकारी निदेशक अनुमिता रॉय चौधरी का कहना है कि हीट-एक्शन प्लान और गर्मी से बचने वाले जंगलों, शहरी हरियाली और जल निकायों के क्षरण को रोके बिना गर्मी के चलते स्वास्थ्य संबंधी खतरे बढ़ेंगे। वह आगे कहती हैं, "जलवायु संकट के कारण बढ़ती गर्मी को कम करने के लिए नीतिगत तैयारी भारत में लगभग नगण्य है और यह प्रवृत्ति दर्शाती है कि औद्योगिक प्रक्रियाओं और एयर कंडीशनर से कंक्रीटाइजेशन, हीट-ट्रैपिंग संरचनाओं और अपशिष्ट गर्मी को पलट कर शहर की गर्मी के दबाव के खिलाफ कार्रवाई की जाए।"

Urban Lab

CSE finds worrying signs of heat stress

Monsoon this year has turned out to be warmer than the preceding summer, an analysis by Centre for Science and Environment has found. The Delhi-based non-profit also said summer 2022 has been the second-hottest since 2010. Heat waves lashing India are expected to worsen with the growing climate change impact. The monsoon is hotter than summer by 0.3-0.4°C on average. Meanwhile, winter and post-monsoon seasons are warming up faster. The extreme heat waves in north-west areas like Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Chandigarh draw maximum public attention. However, there is an urgent need to focus on the overall anomalous temperature in other regions of the country, found the analysis. Megacities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Hyderabad are much hotter than the larger region around them due to heat island effects, the report finds. Surface absorption of heat and local waste heat generated by traffic, industry and air conditioning, among other urban activities, lead to the heat island effect. India Meteorological Department classifies Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand as the country’s north-west region. Earlier, the summer of 2016 held the record for the hottest summer after 2010. Policy preparedness to mitigate rising heat due to climate change is nearly absent in India, said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, CSE. Roychowdhury said: Without heat action plans, rising air temperature, radiating heat from land surfaces, concretisation, heat-trapping built structures, waste heat from industrial processes and air conditioners will worsen public health risks. She added that erosion of heat-dousing forests, urban greens and water bodies is adding to the heat action, urging for time-bound mitigation. The Urban Lab of CSE has analysed the temperature trends in India from January 2015 to May 2022. “It is important to pay attention to the overall rising temperature and humidity trends in different regions to understand the gravity of the problem,” said Avikal Somvanshi, senior programme manager, Urban Lab, CSE. There has been an almost 4°C rise in the average daily maximum temperature for March and April in India’s north-west, compared with the 1981-2010 baseline. This is almost twice as much as the anomaly observed at all-India levels. The lab found the seasonal average of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Hyderabad were 1-2°C higher than the all-India average due to the urban heat island phenomenon. Roychowdhury suggests strategic interventions to reduce heat island effects in cities, along with reduction of heat load on built structures, among other measures, as the way ahead. “At the same time, emergency measures would be needed to respond to the extreme heat conditions during the heat waves,” she said. At an all-India level, the monsoon season (June, July, August and September) has been 0.3-0.4°C hotter than summer — what’s more, it is getting hotter with time. The decadal average temperatures for summer are now 0.49°C hotter than the long-term normal (1951-80 baseline). This is a significant increase, but it pales in front of the increase noted among the decadal average temperatures for the other three seasons. The post-monsoon period (October, November and December) is hotter by 0.73°C. Similarly, the winter (January and February) has been warmer by 0.68°C, and the monsoon by 0.58°C. The normal maximum for central and southern peninsular India was much higher than north-west India. Central India (Chhattisgarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman& Diu, Goa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha) was 2-7°C higher. The southern peninsular region (Andaman & Nicobar, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and Telangana) was 4-10°C higher than temperatures in north-west India. The study also found fewer deaths due to heat waves have been reported since 2015. The southern peninsular region had reported 2,444 deaths due to excessive environmental heat since 2015, compared to 2,137 deaths in north-western areas. However, the report also pointed out that most such deaths might have gone unreported or attributed to co-morbidities. Mostly such deaths are rural, low-income and marginalised populations. We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.

Urban Lab

Pre-monsoon season this year second hottest in India; winters warming up faster: CSE study

While summer or pre-monsoon season this year has overtaken 2016 records as the second hottest pre-monsoon season in the country, winter and post-monsoon seasons are warming up faster, according to the latest findings by the Urban Lab of Centre for Science and Environment According to the study, land surface temperatures in Delhi have been the highest since 2010 and that the city recorded significant positive anomaly (temperature higher than expected) on all three temperature parameters In a bid to understand the warming trend in a comprehensive way, the study by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has analysed the temperature trends by covering all three dimensions of heat stress -- surface air temperature, land surface temperature, and relative humidity (heat index) In Delhi, air temperature has been 1.77 degrees Celsius hotter than 2010, and the land surface temperature 1.95 degrees Celsius hotter, the study said According to the CSE analysis, the daily average heat index crossed 40 degrees Celsius in June, 2022. It said March and April have been unusually dry in Delhi, but humidity started to rise in May with some scattered rain spells. But this spike in humidity has led to an increase in the heat index in the city, indicating increased thermal discomfort among the population "The highest land surface temperature was observed on May 16, 2020 when 53.9 degrees Celsius was recorded within city limits, followed by May 14, 2022 with maximum land surface temperature of 51.8 degrees Celsius. In the previous years, maximum land surface temperature was observed to be in mid-40s range," the CSE findings said It further said during the heatwave in May, 2022, the land surface temperature across Delhi shot above 38 degrees Celsius, which was "unusual as the green pockets within the city have not heated up to this magnitude in the previous years," and that the average land surface temperature has been getting higher than daily average air temperature "Industrial and agricultural zone recorded highest increase in land surface temperature between March to May. The regions at the city periphery in the north, southwest, and northwest Delhi have seen the extremely high surface temperature rise from March 19 to May 14, 2022," the study said The study further noted that even the temperature of the water bodies rose to 29-30 degrees Celsius in May, which were well below 27 degrees Celsius in March According to CSE's analysis on air temperature variation among city's stations, Chandni Chowk recorded the highest average air temperature on May 14, 2022 with 40.39 degrees Celsius, followed by Punjabi Bagh at 40.29 degrees Celsius, Mundka at 39.5 degrees Celsius and Paharganj at 39.1 degrees Celsius CSE said the objective of the city analysis was to understand the combined effect of climate change induced unseasonal heatwaves The study is based on comparative statistical analysis of temperature anomalies and observed heat-related impact in Indian cities and regions.

Urban Lab

Pre-monsoon season this year second hottest in India: CSE study

According to the study, land surface temperatures in Delhi have been the highest since 2010 and that the city recorded significant positive anomaly on all three temperature parameters. New Delhi: While summer or pre-monsoon season this year has overtaken 2016 records as the second hottest pre-monsoon season in the country, winter and post-monsoon seasons are warming up faster, according to the latest findings by the Urban Lab of Centre for Science and Environment. According to the study, land surface temperatures in Delhi have been the highest since 2010 and that the city recorded significant positive anomaly (temperature higher than expected) on all three temperature parameters. In a bid to understand the warming trend in a comprehensive way, the study by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has analysed the temperature trends by covering all three dimensions of heat stress — surface air temperature, land surface temperature, and relative humidity (heat index). In Delhi, air temperature has been 1.77 degrees Celsius hotter than 2010, and the land surface temperature 1.95 degrees Celsius hotter, the study said. According to the CSE analysis, the daily average heat index crossed 40 degrees Celsius in June, 2022. It said March and April have been unusually dry in Delhi, but humidity started to rise in May with some scattered rain spells. But this spike in humidity has led to an increase in the heat index in the city, indicating increased thermal discomfort among the population. “The highest land surface temperature was observed on May 16, 2020 when 53.9 degrees Celsius was recorded within city limits, followed by May 14, 2022 with maximum land surface temperature of 51.8 degrees Celsius. In the previous years, maximum land surface temperature was observed to be in mid-40s range,” the CSE findings said. It further said during the heatwave in May, 2022, the land surface temperature across Delhi shot above 38 degrees Celsius, which was “unusual as the green pockets within the city have not heated up to this magnitude in the previous years,” and that the average land surface temperature has been getting higher than daily average air temperature. “Industrial and agricultural zone recorded highest increase in land surface temperature between March to May. The regions at the city periphery in the north, southwest, and northwest Delhi have seen the extremely high surface temperature rise from March 19 to May 14, 2022,” the study said. The study further noted that even the temperature of the water bodies rose to 29-30 degrees Celsius in May, which were well below 27 degrees Celsius in March. According to CSE’s analysis on air temperature variation among city’s stations, Chandni Chowk recorded the highest average air temperature on May 14, 2022 with 40.39 degrees Celsius, followed by Punjabi Bagh at 40.29 degrees Celsius, Mundka at 39.5 degrees Celsius and Paharganj at 39.1 degrees Celsius. CSE said the objective of the city analysis was to understand the combined effect of climate change induced unseasonal heatwaves. The study is based on comparative statistical analysis of temperature anomalies and observed heat-related impact in Indian cities and regions.

Urban Lab

Pre-monsoon season this year second hottest in India; winters warming up faster: CSE study

While summer or pre-monsoon season this year has overtaken 2016 records as the second hottest pre-monsoon season in the country, winter and post-monsoon seasons are warming up faster, according to the latest findings by the Urban Lab of Centre for Science and Environment. According to the study, land surface temperatures in Delhi have been the highest since 2010 and that the city recorded significant positive anomaly (temperature higher than expected) on all three temperature parameters. In a bid to understand the warming trend in a comprehensive way, the study by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has analysed the temperature trends by covering all three dimensions of heat stress -- surface air temperature, land surface temperature, and relative humidity (heat index). In Delhi, air temperature has been 1.77 degrees Celsius hotter than 2010, and the land surface temperature 1.95 degrees Celsius hotter, the study said. According to the CSE analysis, the daily average heat index crossed 40 degrees Celsius in June, 2022. It said March and April have been unusually dry in Delhi, but humidity started to rise in May with some scattered rain spells. But this spike in humidity has led to an increase in the heat index in the city, indicating increased thermal discomfort among the population. The highest land surface temperature was observed on May 16, 2020 when 53.9 degrees Celsius was recorded within city limits, followed by May 14, 2022 with maximum land surface temperature of 51.8 degrees Celsius. In the previous years, maximum land surface temperature was observed to be in mid-40s range," the CSE findings said. "Industrial and agricultural zone recorded highest increase in land surface temperature between March to May. The regions at the city periphery in the north, southwest, and northwest Delhi have seen the extremely high surface temperature rise from March 19 to May 14, 2022," the study said. The study further noted that even the temperature of the water bodies rose to 29-30 degrees Celsius in May, which were well below 27 degrees Celsius in March. According to CSE's analysis on air temperature variation among city's stations, Chandni Chowk recorded the highest average air temperature on May 14, 2022 with 40.39 degrees Celsius, followed by Punjabi Bagh at 40.29 degrees Celsius, Mundka at 39.5 degrees Celsius and Paharganj at 39.1 degrees Celsius. CSE said the objective of the city analysis was to understand the combined effect of climate change induced unseasonal heatwaves. The study is based on comparative statistical analysis of temperature anomalies and observed heat-related impact in Indian cities and regions.

Urban Lab

Heat stress rising in India, heat waves second biggest killer among natural forces

Even though the monsoon has begun to affect the entire country, many areas still seem to be experiencing intense heat which is exacerbated by sharp increases in humidity. This summer’s heat waves in India are a reflection of the unusual temperature trends that are anticipated to get worse as the effects of climate change become more pronounced. After the summer of 2010, the summer of 2022 has been the second-hottest summer since 2016. Due to heat island effects brought on by surface heat absorption and local waste heat produced by traffic, industry, and air conditioning, megacities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad are significantly hotter than the greater territory around them (among other urban activities). According to a recent country-wide by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), while extreme heat waves in the northwest states as defined by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) attract the most public attention, the rise in overall anomalous temperature in other parts of the nation has been largely ignored. “This is a very disturbing trend as policy preparedness to mitigate rising heat due to climate change is nearly absent in India. Without heat action plans, rising air temperature, radiating heat from land surfaces, concretisation, heat-trapping built structures, waste heat from industrial processes and air conditioners, and erosion of heat dousing forests, urban greens and water bodies will worsen public health risks. This requires urgent time-bound mitigation,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, CSE. Avikal Somvanshi, senior programme manager, Urban Lab, CSE said “Understanding the overall temperature anomaly, extreme heat conditions, and the mixed trends in heat patterns across different regions of India has become necessary to assess the emergent risk. Currently, the attention is largely on the maximum daily heat levels and extreme conditions of heat waves. But it is equally important to pay attention to the overall rising temperature and humidity trends in different regions to understand the gravity of the problem”. Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) that also captures accidental deaths including those from climatic stress, shows that between 2015 and 2020, 2,137 people had reportedly died due to heat stroke in the states in the northwest. But the southern peninsula region had reported 2,444 deaths due to excessive environmental heat, with Andhra Pradesh alone accounting for over half of the reported casualties. Delhi reported only one death for the same period. Most deaths have been reported among working-age men (30-60-year-olds), usually not considered highly vulnerable to temperature anomalies. The understanding of the public health impacts of meteorological conditions like heat waves is still weak in India. Heat waves are the second most deadly natural force in India, having killed over 20,615 people during 2000-20. Lightning, with 49,679 deaths, was the top killer. There has been a decline in the number of reported deaths since 2015 when IMD reported 2,081 deaths and NCRB reported 1,908 deaths. There were no deaths reported by IMD in 2021 and NCRB is yet to publish the 2021 edition of its annual Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India (ADSI). The temperature trends in India from January 2015 to May 2022 were studied by the Urban Lab of CSE. Surface air temperature, land surface temperature, and relative humidity (heat index) have been studied at the national, regional, and local levels in an effort to understand the patterns in global warming. Additionally, the patterns in the metropolises of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad in each of the four homogeneous zones of the IMD have been evaluated. A CSE release said the temperature anomaly has been examined by the analysis (which refers to a departure from a reference value or long-term average or a baseline). A positive anomaly means that the temperature was higher than the baseline, whereas a negative anomaly means that it was lower. It typically serves to report monthly, seasonal, yearly, or decadal fluctuations in temperature. Although significantly shorter in duration and characterised in contrast to an absolute temperature threshold as well as deviation from the usual, heat waves are likewise anomalous temperature events. (ANI)

Urban Lab

Heat stress rising in India, heat waves second biggest killer among natural forces Read more At: https://www.aninews.in/news/science/heat-stress-rising-in-india-heat-waves-second-biggest-killer-among-natural-forces20220707184233/

Heat stress rising in India, heat waves second biggest killer among natural forces Read more At: https://www.aninews.in/news/science/heat-stress-rising-in-india-heat-waves-second-biggest-killer-among-natural-forces20220707184233/

Urban Lab

Heat stress rising in India, heat waves second biggest killer among natural forces

This summer's heat waves in India are a reflection of the unusual temperature trends that are anticipated to get worse as the effects of climate change become more pronounced. Even though the monsoon has begun to affect the entire country, many areas still seem to be experiencing intense heat which is exacerbated by sharp increases in humidity. This summer's heat waves in India are a reflection of the unusual temperature trends that are anticipated to get worse as the effects of climate change become more pronounced. After the summer of 2010, the summer of 2022 has been the second-hottest summer since 2016. Due to heat island effects brought on by surface heat absorption and local waste heat produced by traffic, industry, and air conditioning, megacities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad are significantly hotter than the greater territory around them (among other urban activities). According to a recent country-wide by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), while extreme heat waves in the northwest states as defined by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) attract the most public attention, the rise in overall anomalous temperature in other parts of the nation has been largely ignored. "This is a very disturbing trend as policy preparedness to mitigate rising heat due to climate change is nearly absent in India. Without heat action plans, rising air temperature, radiating heat from land surfaces, concretisation, heat-trapping built structures, waste heat from industrial processes and air conditioners, and erosion of heat dousing forests, urban greens and water bodies will worsen public health risks. This requires urgent time-bound mitigation," said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, CSE. Avikal Somvanshi, senior programme manager, Urban Lab, CSE said "Understanding the overall temperature anomaly, extreme heat conditions, and the mixed trends in heat patterns across different regions of India has become necessary to assess the emergent risk. Currently, the attention is largely on the maximum daily heat levels and extreme conditions of heat waves. But it is equally important to pay attention to the overall rising temperature and humidity trends in different regions to understand the gravity of the problem". Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) that also captures accidental deaths including those from climatic stress, shows that between 2015 and 2020, 2,137 people had reportedly died due to heat stroke in the states in the northwest. But the southern peninsula region had reported 2,444 deaths due to excessive environmental heat, with Andhra Pradesh alone accounting for over half of the reported casualties. Delhi reported only one death for the same period. Most deaths have been reported among working-age men (30-60-year-olds), usually not considered highly vulnerable to temperature anomalies. The understanding of the public health impacts of meteorological conditions like heat waves is still weak in India. Heat waves are the second most deadly natural force in India, having killed over 20,615 people during 2000-20. Lightning, with 49,679 deaths, was the top killer. There has been a decline in the number of reported deaths since 2015 when IMD reported 2,081 deaths and NCRB reported 1,908 deaths. There were no deaths reported by IMD in 2021 and NCRB is yet to publish the 2021 edition of its annual Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India (ADSI). The temperature trends in India from January 2015 to May 2022 were studied by the Urban Lab of CSE. Surface air temperature, land surface temperature, and relative humidity (heat index) have been studied at the national, regional, and local levels in an effort to understand the patterns in global warming. Additionally, the patterns in the metropolises of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad in each of the four homogeneous zones of the IMD have been evaluated. A CSE release said the temperature anomaly has been examined by the analysis (which refers to a departure from a reference value or long-term average or a baseline). A positive anomaly means that the temperature was higher than the baseline, whereas a negative anomaly means that it was lower. It typically serves to report monthly, seasonal, yearly, or decadal fluctuations in temperature. Although significantly shorter in duration and characterised in contrast to an absolute temperature threshold as well as deviation from the usual, heat waves are likewise anomalous temperature events. (ANI)

Urban Lab

Delhi's air, surface temperatures above baseline avg, study finds

The highest surface temperature this year was 51.8°C on May 14 at outer Delhi’s Narela, Bawana, Fatehpur Jat and south-east Delhi’s Badarpur. Air and surface temperatures in Delhi between March and May this year were significantly higher than the 1981-2010 baseline, and the heat index was well above a more recent 2010-19 threshold, found a study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The study, ‘‘Urban Heat Stress in major cities of India: Delhi” found that the Capital’s average air temperature from March to May (considered the pre-monsoon period) this year was 30.03°C, higher than the 30-year baseline (1981-2010) of 28.25°C, while the average land surface temperature was 1.95°C than its baseline. At the same time, Delhi’s heat index (also known as the ‘real feel’ of the weather) was 30.53°C, higher than the baseline figure of 28.89°C. The highest surface temperature this year was 51.8°C on May 14 at outer Delhi’s Narela, Bawana, Fatehpur Jat and south-east Delhi’s Badarpur. It also found that surface temperatures in some parts of the city hit a high of 53.9°C in the past eight years. The CSE analysis used the United States Geological Survey’s (USGS) EarthExplorer portal to analyse land imagery and thermal infrared sensor data, assessing change in heat patterns for Delhi over the years during the pre-monsoon season. Shinde, Fadnavis likely to finalise power-sharing formula in Delhi today It added that, in general, the areas with the lowest LST were those along the Yamuna and near the Okhla Bird Sanctuary. The study also finds a considerable difference the heat index and air temperature across the city during the pre-monsoon period this year, finding the gap to be as wide as six degrees between neighbourhoods. Chandni Chowk recorded the highest seasonal air temperature, with an average reading of 34.2°C, Aurobindo Marg at 28.1°C was the city’s coolest spot. From a heat index perspective, Siri Fort recorded the highest seasonal average at 38.2°C, followed by Chandni Chowk at 36.8°C. Shadipur (29.1°C) and Aurobindo Marg (29.6°C) were on the other end of the spectrum, recording the lowest average seasonal heat index reading. “Understanding the overall temperature anomaly, extreme heat conditions, and the mixed trends in heat patterns across different regions of India has become necessary to assess the emergent risk. Currently, the attention is largely on the maximum daily heat levels and extreme conditions of heat waves, but it is equally important to pay attention to the overall rising temperature and humidity trends in different regions to understand the gravity of the problem,” says Avikal Somvanshi, senior programme manager at the Urban Lab of CSE and also the co-author of the study. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, CSE says without heat-action plans and the erosion of heat-dousing forests, urban greens and water bodies, health risks related to heat stress will only increase. “Policy preparedness to mitigate rising heat due to climate crisis is nearly absent in India and this trend shows the need to act against urban heat stress by reversing concretisation, heat-trapping structures and waste heat from industrial processes and air conditioners,” she says.

Urban Lab

Delhi hotter than before with more hotspots, greater variations in maximum temperatures

Delhi has become hotter than before with more heat hotspots, high variations in maximum temperatures within city areas and sudden rise of mercury up to 26 degrees Celsius in areas within a month. These findings indicate that the city may need to rethink its climate action plans to deal with the soaring heat stress, said experts. Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has analysed the temperature trends for Delhi, along with Mumbai, Kolkata and Hyderabad, from January 2015 to May 2022. The study revealed that while Delhi recorded a significant rise in all three temperature parameters — surface air temperature, land surface temperature and relative humidity (heat index), it also has maximum variations in temperatures in different areas. Loss in green cover, seasonal loss of vegetation and urban activities are believed to be among the reasons behind the drastic rise in the number of heat hotspots in Delhi. The study noted that after peaking of pre-monsoon temperatures in 2016 — one of the hottest summers in the city, it had been cooling down until this year. Delhi hotter than before with more hotspots, greater variations in maximum temperatures TNN | Jul 8, 2022, 04.46 AM IST Delhi hotter than before with more hotspots, greater variations in maximum temperatures NEW DELHI: Delhi has become hotter than before with more heat hotspots, high variations in maximum temperatures within city areas and sudden rise of mercury up to 26 degrees Celsius in areas within a month. These findings indicate that the city may need to rethink its climate action plans to deal with the soaring heat stress, said experts. Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has analysed the temperature trends for Delhi, along with Mumbai, Kolkata and Hyderabad, from January 2015 to May 2022. jk The study revealed that while Delhi recorded a significant rise in all three temperature parameters — surface air temperature, land surface temperature and relative humidity (heat index), it also has maximum variations in temperatures in different areas. Congratulations! You have successfully cast your vote Loss in green cover, seasonal loss of vegetation and urban activities are believed to be among the reasons behind the drastic rise in the number of heat hotspots in Delhi. The study noted that after peaking of pre-monsoon temperatures in 2016 — one of the hottest summers in the city, it had been cooling down until this year. “Delhi is far more drier than other cities where vegetation is more consistent and evergreen. Vegetation in Delhi also fluctuated as per season, due to weather and crop harvest. Besides, development work leads to loss in tree cover,” said Avikal Somvanshi, senior programme manager at CSE and lead author of the study. There is a need to have a multi-sectoral effort, not limited to planting trees and putting up symbolic solar panels. “The city needs to re-assess its plans to adapt to future heat conditions and focus on developing resilience,” Somvanshi emphasised. The report stated that air surface temperature was currently 1.77 degrees Celsius more than the 1981-2010 baseline, while the land surface temperature was 1.95 degrees Celsius more. The heat index is up by 1.64 degrees Celsius compared with the 2010-19 baseline. “Mega cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Hyderabad, are much hotter due to heat island effects caused by surface absorption of heat and local waste heat generated by traffic, industry and airconditioning, among other urban activities,” the report pointed out. Regarding the extent to which land surface temperature soars in short duration in Delhi, it found that between March 19 and May 14, 2022, the temperature in Narela soared by 26.5 degrees Celsius, followed by 25.3 in Bawana, 24 in Matiala, 23.9 in Mundka, 22.9 in Najafgarh, 22.8 in Burari, and 20.7 in Karawal Nagar. The study also pointed out absence of certain system like not considering humidity and heat index, or the feel temperature. “March and April have been unusually dry in Delhi, but humidity started rising in May, which brought relief from heatwaves. But the spike in humidity has led to an increase in the heat index in the city, indicating an increased discomfort among people,” the report pointed out. But since India Meteorological Department “doesn’t account for humidity in its consideration for heatwaves, dangers of humid heat that is known to be more lethal to humans doesn’t get reported”, it added. Sir Fort and Chandni Chowk were on average were the hottest neighbourhoods. “Without urgent time-bound mitigation, rising air temperature, radiating heat from land surfaces, heat-trapping built structures, waste heat from industrial processes and airconditioners, and erosion of forests, urban greens and waterbodies will worsen public health risks,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director of CSE.

Urban Lab

Heat stress rising in India, 2nd biggest killer among natural forces

Even though the monsoon has begun to affect the entire country, many areas still seem to be experiencing intense heat which is exacerbated by sharp increases in humidity. This summer's heat waves in India are a reflection of the unusual temperature trends that are anticipated to get worse as the effects of climate change become more pronounced. After the summer of 2010, the summer of 2022 has been the second-hottest summer since 2016. Due to heat island effects brought on by surface heat absorption and local waste heat produced by traffic, industry, and air conditioning, megacities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad are significantly hotter than the greater territory around them (among other urban activities). According to a recent country-wide by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), while extreme heat waves in the northwest states as defined by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) attract the most public attention, the rise in overall anomalous temperature in other parts of the nation has been largely ignored. "This is a very disturbing trend as policy preparedness to mitigate rising heat due to climate change is nearly absent in India. Without heat action plans, rising air temperature, radiating heat from land surfaces, concretisation, heat-trapping built structures, waste heat from industrial processes and air conditioners, and erosion of heat dousing forests, urban greens and water bodies will worsen public health risks. This requires urgent time-bound mitigation," said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, CSE. Avikal Somvanshi, senior programme manager, Urban Lab, CSE said "Understanding the overall temperature anomaly, extreme heat conditions, and the mixed trends in heat patterns across different regions of India has become necessary to assess the emergent risk. Currently, the attention is largely on the maximum daily heat levels and extreme conditions of heat waves. But it is equally important to pay attention to the overall rising temperature and humidity trends in different regions to understand the gravity of the problem". Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) that also captures accidental deaths including those from climatic stress, shows that between 2015 and 2020, 2,137 people had reportedly died due to heat stroke in the states in the northwest. But the southern peninsula region had reported 2,444 deaths due to excessive environmental heat, with Andhra Pradesh alone accounting for over half of the reported casualties. Delhi reported only one death for the same period. Most deaths have been reported among working-age men (30-60-year-olds), usually not considered highly vulnerable to temperature anomalies. The understanding of the public health impacts of meteorological conditions like heat waves is still weak in India. Heat waves are the second most deadly natural force in India, having killed over 20,615 people during 2000-20. Lightning, with 49,679 deaths, was the top killer. There has been a decline in the number of reported deaths since 2015 when IMD reported 2,081 deaths and NCRB reported 1,908 deaths. There were no deaths reported by IMD in 2021 and NCRB is yet to publish the 2021 edition of its annual Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India (ADSI). The temperature trends in India from January 2015 to May 2022 were studied by the Urban Lab of CSE. Surface air temperature, land surface temperature, and relative humidity (heat index) have been studied at the national, regional, and local levels in an effort to understand the patterns in global warming. Additionally, the patterns in the metropolises of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad in each of the four homogeneous zones of the IMD have been evaluated. A CSE release said the temperature anomaly has been examined by the analysis (which refers to a departure from a reference value or long-term average or a baseline). A positive anomaly means that the temperature was higher than the baseline, whereas a negative anomaly means that it was lower. It typically serves to report monthly, seasonal, yearly, or decadal fluctuations in temperature. Although significantly shorter in duration and characterised in contrast to an absolute temperature threshold as well as deviation from the usual, heat waves are likewise anomalous temperature events.

Urban Lab

Pre-monsoon heat of 2022 overtakes 2016 in India: CSE

The heat waves lashing India this summer are symptomatic of the anomalous temperature trends that are expected to worsen with growing climate change impacts. Even as the monsoon has made its footfalls felt across the country, there seems to be little respite from the searing heat – aided by steep rises in humidity levels — in many pockets. The heat waves lashing India this summer are symptomatic of the anomalous temperature trends that are expected to worsen with growing climate change impacts. The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has revealed some key findings which states 2022 pre-monsoon summer heat trends overtake 2016 as the second hottest pre-monsoon season on record for India As per the finding, the seasonal average air temperature for 2022 — pre-monsoon or summer (March, April and May as per IMD classification) — is 1.24°C warmer than the baseline trends that relate to 1971-2000 climatology. “This is a very disturbing trend as policy preparedness to mitigate rising heat due to climate change is nearly absent in India. Without heat action plans, rising air temperature, radiating heat from land surfaces, concretisation, heat-trapping built structures, waste heat from industrial processes and air conditioners, and erosion of heat dousing forests, urban greens and waterbodies will worsen public health risks. This requires urgent time-bound mitigation,” says Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, CSE. “Understanding the overall temperature anomaly, extreme heat conditions, and the mixed trends in heat patterns across different regions of India has become necessary to assess the emergent risk. Currently, the attention is largely on the maximum daily heat levels and extreme conditions of heat waves. But it is equally important to pay attention to the overall rising temperature and humidity trends in different regions to understand the gravity of the problem,” says Avikal Somvanshi, senior programme manager, Urban Lab, CSE. The Urban Lab of CSE has analysed the temperature trends in India from January 2015 till May 2022. The effort has been to understand the warming trends by covering all three dimensions of heat stress — surface air temperature, land surface temperature, and relative humidity (heat index) — at the national, regional and local levels. The trends in the metropolises of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Hyderabad (one located in each of IMD’s four homogenous regions) have also been assessed. It further revealed monsoon is hotter than the pre-monsoon period on an average, while winter and post-monsoon seasons are warming up faster. At an all-India level, the monsoon season (June, July, August and September as per IMD classification) has been 0.3-0.4°C hotter than pre-monsoon (or summer) – what’s more, it is getting hotter with time. Besides, this year, the observed average daily maximum temperature for March and April for states and Union territories in India’s northwest (Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttrakhand – as per IMD classification) has been almost 4°C above the normal (compared to its baseline of 1981-2010). This is almost twice as much as the anomaly observed at all India level, and it holds true for even average daily minimum, daily mean and land surface temperatures. Temperatures became relatively closer to normal during the month of May. Roychowdhury added, “In this climate-constrained world, heat stress is expected to worsen. This demands urgent action to adopt direct measures to mitigate heat across the region as well as the city to reduce public health risk and occupational exposure to heat, contain energy consumption due to increased demand for cooling, prevent damage to infrastructure, and ensure overall wellbeing of the masses exposed to high and extreme heat.” She adds: “This will require strategic interventions to reduce heat island effects in cities by conserving and expanding urban greens/forests and waterbodies, adopt architectural design guidelines for the built environment to reduce heat load on built structures, and contain concretisation of surface areas. At the same time, emergency measures would be needed to respond to the extreme heat conditions during the heat waves.”

Urban Lab

Heatwave second biggest killer among natural forces

Urban Lab

Heat stress rising in India, heat waves second biggest killer among natural forces

Even though the monsoon has begun to affect the entire country, many areas still seem to be experiencing intense heat which is exacerbated by sharp increases in humidity. This summer's heat waves in India are a reflection of the unusual temperature trends that are anticipated to get worse as the effects of climate change become more pronounced. Even though the monsoon has begun to affect the entire country, many areas still seem to be experiencing intense heat which is exacerbated by sharp increases in humidity. This summer's heat waves in India are a reflection of the unusual temperature trends that are anticipated to get worse as the effects of climate change become more pronounced. After the summer of 2010, the summer of 2022 has been the second-hottest summer since 2016. Due to heat island effects brought on by surface heat absorption and local waste heat produced by traffic, industry, and air conditioning, megacities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad are significantly hotter than the greater territory around them (among other urban activities). According to a recent country-wide by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), while extreme heat waves in the northwest states as defined by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) attract the most public attention, the rise in overall anomalous temperature in other parts of the nation has been largely ignored. "This is a very disturbing trend as policy preparedness to mitigate rising heat due to climate change is nearly absent in India. Without heat action plans, rising air temperature, radiating heat from land surfaces, concretisation, heat-trapping built structures, waste heat from industrial processes and air conditioners, and erosion of heat dousing forests, urban greens and water bodies will worsen public health risks. This requires urgent time-bound mitigation," said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, CSE. Avikal Somvanshi, senior programme manager, Urban Lab, CSE said "Understanding the overall temperature anomaly, extreme heat conditions, and the mixed trends in heat patterns across different regions of India has become necessary to assess the emergent risk. Currently, the attention is largely on the maximum daily heat levels and extreme conditions of heat waves. But it is equally important to pay attention to the overall rising temperature and humidity trends in different regions to understand the gravity of the problem". Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) that also captures accidental deaths including those from climatic stress, shows that between 2015 and 2020, 2,137 people had reportedly died due to heat stroke in the states in the northwest. But the southern peninsula region had reported 2,444 deaths due to excessive environmental heat, with Andhra Pradesh alone accounting for over half of the reported casualties. Delhi reported only one death for the same period. Most deaths have been reported among working-age men (30-60-year-olds), usually not considered highly vulnerable to temperature anomalies. The understanding of the public health impacts of meteorological conditions like heat waves is still weak in India. Heat waves are the second most deadly natural force in India, having killed over 20,615 people during 2000-20. Lightning, with 49,679 deaths, was the top killer. There has been a decline in the number of reported deaths since 2015 when IMD reported 2,081 deaths and NCRB reported 1,908 deaths. There were no deaths reported by IMD in 2021 and NCRB is yet to publish the 2021 edition of its annual Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India (ADSI). The temperature trends in India from January 2015 to May 2022 were studied by the Urban Lab of CSE. Surface air temperature, land surface temperature, and relative humidity (heat index) have been studied at the national, regional, and local levels in an effort to understand the patterns in global warming. Additionally, the patterns in the metropolises of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad in each of the four homogeneous zones of the IMD have been evaluated. A CSE release said the temperature anomaly has been examined by the analysis (which refers to a departure from a reference value or long-term average or a baseline). A positive anomaly means that the temperature was higher than the baseline, whereas a negative anomaly means that it was lower. It typically serves to report monthly, seasonal, yearly, or decadal fluctuations in temperature. Although significantly shorter in duration and characterised in contrast to an absolute temperature threshold as well as deviation from the usual, heat waves are likewise anomalous temperature events. (ANI) (This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Urban Lab

Heat stress rising in India, heat waves second biggest killer among natural forces

Even though the monsoon has begun to affect the entire country, many areas still seem to be experiencing intense heat which is exacerbated by sharp increases in humidity. This summer's heat waves in India are a reflection of the unusual temperature trends that are anticipated to get worse as the effects of climate change become more pronounced. After the summer of 2010, the summer of 2022 has been the second-hottest summer since 2016. Due to heat island effects brought on by surface heat absorption and local waste heat produced by traffic, industry, and air conditioning, megacities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad are significantly hotter than the greater territory around them (among other urban activities). According to a recent country-wide by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), while extreme heat waves in the northwest states as defined by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) attract the most public attention, the rise in overall anomalous temperature in other parts of the nation has been largely ignored. "This is a very disturbing trend as policy preparedness to mitigate rising heat due to climate change is nearly absent in India. Without heat action plans, rising air temperature, radiating heat from land surfaces, concretisation, heat-trapping built structures, waste heat from industrial processes and air conditioners, and erosion of heat dousing forests, urban greens and water bodies will worsen public health risks. This requires urgent time-bound mitigation," said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, CSE. Avikal Somvanshi, senior programme manager, Urban Lab, CSE said "Understanding the overall temperature anomaly, extreme heat conditions, and the mixed trends in heat patterns across different regions of India has become necessary to assess the emergent risk. Currently, the attention is largely on the maximum daily heat levels and extreme conditions of heat waves. But it is equally important to pay attention to the overall rising temperature and humidity trends in different regions to understand the gravity of the problem". Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) that also captures accidental deaths including those from climatic stress, shows that between 2015 and 2020, 2,137 people had reportedly died due to heat stroke in the states in the northwest. But the southern peninsula region had reported 2,444 deaths due to excessive environmental heat, with Andhra Pradesh alone accounting for over half of the reported casualties. Delhi reported only one death for the same period. Most deaths have been reported among working-age men (30-60-year-olds), usually not considered highly vulnerable to temperature anomalies. The understanding of the public health impacts of meteorological conditions like heat waves is still weak in India. Heat waves are the second most deadly natural force in India, having killed over 20,615 people during 2000-20. Lightning, with 49,679 deaths, was the top killer. There has been a decline in the number of reported deaths since 2015 when IMD reported 2,081 deaths and NCRB reported 1,908 deaths. There were no deaths reported by IMD in 2021 and NCRB is yet to publish the 2021 edition of its annual Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India (ADSI). The temperature trends in India from January 2015 to May 2022 were studied by the Urban Lab of CSE. Surface air temperature, land surface temperature, and relative humidity (heat index) have been studied at the national, regional, and local levels in an effort to understand the patterns in global warming. Additionally, the patterns in the metropolises of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad in each of the four homogeneous zones of the IMD have been evaluated. A CSE release said the temperature anomaly has been examined by the analysis (which refers to a departure from a reference value or long-term average or a baseline). A positive anomaly means that the temperature was higher than the baseline, whereas a negative anomaly means that it was lower. It typically serves to report monthly, seasonal, yearly, or decadal fluctuations in temperature. Although significantly shorter in duration and characterised in contrast to an absolute temperature threshold as well as deviation from the usual, heat waves are likewise anomalous temperature events. (ANI)

Urban Lab