IMD Report Says Heatwave Duration In Most Parts Of India To Increase By 2060
New Delhi, 25th April 2023: The majority of India, will experience an increase in the duration of heatwaves by 12–18 days by 2060, according to a new analysis by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) titled “Heat and Cold Waves in India Processes and Predictability” issued on Tuesday (April 24).
A thorough response strategy for heatwaves, including cultural, institutional, technological, and ecosystem-based adaptation methods, is advised by the report.
The research makes several recommendations, such as improving the ventilation and insulation of India’s buildings, educating people about heat exhaustion, altering work hours, providing early warning, and creating cool shelters.
According to IMD data, heatwaves have claimed more lives in India than any other natural calamity other than tropical cyclones. Using information from 1961 to 2020, it examined the climate and the occurrence of heat waves.
When the maximum temperature is 4.5 degrees above average and 40 degrees Celsius, the IMD declares a heatwave.
A severe heat wave is deemed to be present when the temperature hits 40 degrees Celsius and is 6.5 degrees higher than average. In central and northwestern India (the heatwave zone), as well as on the coasts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, heatwaves are most frequent from March to June.
In the northern regions of the nation, together with the coastal Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, more than two heatwaves happen on average each year. In some places, heat waves can happen up to four times per season.
Global forecasts in the paper indicate that between 2020 and 2064, there will be an increase of two heatwaves on average, with an increase in heatwave duration of 12 to 18 days.
If the global average temperature rises no more than 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, the frequency of severe heat waves will increase by 30 times by the end of the twenty-first century.
