A new research has revealed that increasing heat wave in India could be another manifestation of drastic climate change.
Array
The research conducted by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) explained that around 2,000 people have been killed in India by the strong heat wave in the worst-affected states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, where maximum temperatures have hovered around a searing 45 degrees Celsius.
Array
The research mentioned that cities feel the brunt of the elevated temperatures, because of the magnified effect of paved surfaces and a lack of tree cover, which is known as the urban heat island effect.
Also Read
Array
Arjuna Srinidhi, a programme manager at CSE, said that the urban heat island effects can make ambient temperatures feel three to four degrees more than what they are, and if compared to 2010, heat wave conditions in 2015 so far have been of a shorter duration, yet with a higher death toll.
The climate researchers mentioned that more heat waves were expected in India as globally temperatures had risen by an average of 0.8 degrees in the past 100 years.
The researchers concluded that building awareness about heat waves and their effects, issuing proper warning systems and building capacity of health workers to deal with such events becomes an imperative role of the state and national governments.
