Heat

Mercury rising: Can India tackle the heat and protect lives, livelihoods?

IMD said 2024 was the warmest on record in India since 1901, with the average minimum temperature settling 0.90 degrees Celsius above the long-period average

High levels of heat found to affect foetuses, infants up to age 2: Study

Exposure to high levels of heat could affect growth of foetuses in the womb and infants up to two years of age, an analysis of over 600 pregnancies in the west African country of The Gambia has suggested. For every degree Celsius rise in average daily heat in the first trimester of pregnancy, the weight of a baby at birth corresponding to gestation period was found to be lowered, according to the findings published in The Lancet Planetary Health journal. One experiences heat stress when their body's ability to regulate temperature is compromised. The researchers, led by those at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), UK, followed a total of 668 infants, about half of whom were girls and half boys, for their first 1,000 days of life. At birth, 66 infants (10 per cent) were found to weigh under 2.5 kilograms, described as a low birth weight by the researchers. About a third of the infants studied (218) were found to be small for gestational age, while nine infants

Earth sets new record for hottest summer, raising global heat concerns

Summer 2024 sweltered to Earth's hottest on record, making it even more likely that this year will end up as the warmest humanity has measured, European climate service Copernicus reported Friday. And if this sounds familiar, that's because the records the globe shattered were set just last year as human-caused climate change, with a temporary boost from an El Nino, keeps dialling up temperatures and extreme weather, scientists said. The northern meteorological summer June, July and August averaged 16.8 degrees Celsius (62.24 degrees Fahrenheit), according to Copernicus. That's 0.03 degrees Celsius (0.05 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than the old record in 2023. Copernicus records go back to 1940, but American, British and Japanese records, which start in the mid-19th century, show the last decade has been the hottest since regular measurements were taken and likely in about 120,000 years, according to some scientists. The Augusts of both 2024 and 2023 tied for the hottest Augusts ..

Earth just ended a thirteen month streak of record heat, what's next?

Global warming has consistently toppled records for warm global average temperatures in recent decades, but breaking them by as much as a quarter of a degree for several months is not common

KRN Heat to float initial share sale in Sep, collects Rs 9.54 cr in pre-IPO

KRN Heat Exchanger and Refrigeration Ltd is likely to come out with its initial share sale next month, and funds will be used for expansion plans, market sources said on Sunday. On Saturday, the company announced raising Rs 9.54 crore by a pre-IPO (initial public offering) placement round. The Rajasthan-based company manufactures fin and tube-type heat exchangers for the heat ventilation air-conditioning and refrigeration industry. The company's entire manufacturing operations are undertaken at its consolidated manufacturing facility comprising two industrial plots located in the RIICO Industrial Area, Neemrana, Rajasthan. KRN Heat Exchanger's initial paper was filed in January 2024, comprising entirely a fresh issue of 1.93 crore equity shares with no OFS component. Later, the company filed the papers in late March with a revised issue size. Going by the draft papers filed in March, the company's proposed IPO involved a fresh issue of size of 1.6 crore equity shares. Market sou

Extreme heat endangering children in West, Central Africa, says UNICEF

Children in West and Central Africa are increasingly exposed to extreme heat, which further endangers their health, according to a new report by UNICEF. The frequency of heatwaves in the region has more than quadrupled since the 1960s, according to the report published on Wednesday. West Africa experienced an unprecedented heat wave earlier this year that led to a surge in deaths. One hospital in Mali reported 102 deaths in the first four days of April, compared to 130 deaths in the entire month of April last year. It's unknown how many of the fatalities were due to the extreme weather as such data cannot be made public under the regulations imposed by the country's military rulers. The extreme heat is creating health concerns for children and pregnant women as it is linked to higher chances of stillbirths, low birth weight and preterm births, according to the report. Exposure to high levels of heat also leaves children more vulnerable to developing chronic diseases and contracting

Record temperatures scorch eastern China, driving up power demand

In the east and northwest of China, temperatures as high as 43.9 degrees Celsius

Vulnerable Pakistan withers under deadly heat and fears the coming rains

Karachi endured days of temperatures above 38 degrees Celsius, made worse by power cuts and high humidity

Delhi shatters 74-year records with the hottest May and June on record

The average max temperature in June reached 41.95 degree Celsius, while May 2024 ranked as the seventh hottest since 1951, leading to the third hottest April-June period on record in Delhi

Follow fire protocol at hospitals to a T: Union health secy to states

Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra on Monday called for strict compliance with fire-safety protocols in a meeting with states and healthcare organisations, citing an increased possibility of fires in hospitals with high temperatures. With the entire northern region reeling under a prolonged heatwave, incidents of fire, including in forests, are increasingly being reported. Several of these fire incidents were reported to be caused by short circuits which happened due to sub-optimal electrical maintenance and/or overload of electricity lines with heavy use of air-conditioners and other equipment. "Given the potential risks associated with fire hazards in hospitals, it is imperative that strict protocols and measures be put in place to prevent, detect and respond to fires effectively. "Establishing a robust fire safety plan and conducting fire-evacuation and safety drills will not only ensure compliance with regulatory requirements but also safeguard lives and property," Chandra .

National Heat Awareness Day 2024: Date, history theme and importance

National Heat Awareness Day is devoted to educating the public about the health risks related to extreme heat and how to safeguard our health. Heat waves are a developing concern everywhere

At 49.9 degrees Celsius, Delhi sees record-breaking maximum temperature

Mungeshpur, Najafgarh and Narela, have recorded temperatures of 49.9 degrees Celsius, 49.8 degrees Celsius, and 49.9 degrees Celsius, respectively, facing severe heatwave conditions

Intense heatwave: 37 cities record temperature over 45 degrees Celsius

People in large parts of India sweated through a deadly heat wave that tested power grids and disaster preparedness of states on Sunday while Maharashtra's Akola imposed Section 144 until May 31, prohibiting public gatherings. A 'red' warning has been issued for Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, west Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat, indicating a "very high likelihood" of heat illness and heat stroke for all age groups. Rajasthan's Phalodi was the hottest place in the country for the second consecutive day, recording a maximum temperature of 49.8 degrees Celsius. A day ago, the city hit 50 degrees Celsius -- the highest temperature recorded in the country since June 1, 2019. The state has reported multiple heat-related deaths in the last three days. Official data showed that at least 37 places in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh recorded maximum temperatures of 45 degrees Celsius or above on Sunday, compared to 17 places a day ago.

Samsung's HBM chips failing Nvidia tests due to heat, power problems

The reasons for Samsung failing Nvidia's tests are being reported for the first time

Rapid warming of Indian ocean could lead to catastrophic outcomes: Study

The Indian Ocean is expected to experience surface warming of 1.4 degrees Celsius to 3 degrees Celsius between 2020 and 2100, which will push it into a near-permanent heatwave state, intensify cyclones, affect the monsoon, and lead to a rise in sea levels, according to a new study. The study, led by Roxy Mathew Koll, a climate scientist at the Pune-based Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), showed that marine heatwaves (periods of abnormally high ocean temperatures) are projected to increase from 20 days per year (during 1970-2000) to 220-250 days per year, pushing the tropical Indian Ocean into a basin-wide near-permanent heatwave state by the end of the 21st century. Marine heatwaves cause habitat destruction due to coral bleaching, seagrass destruction, and loss of kelp forests, affecting the fisheries sector adversely. They also lead to the rapid intensification of cyclones. The rapid warming in the Indian Ocean is not limited to the surface. The heat content of the

Delhi records hottest day of year so far as temperature touches 39.1 deg C

Delhi's maximum temperature on Wednesday was four notches above the season's average, while it recorded a low of 17 degrees Celsius, three notches below the season's average, the data showed

Above-normal maximum temperatures likely during April-June, says IMD

India is set to experience extreme heat during the April to June period, with the central and western peninsular parts expected to face the worst impact, the IMD said on Monday as the country prepares for seven-phase general elections from April 19. India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said above-normal maximum temperatures are likely over most parts of the country during the April-June period, with a high probability over central and western peninsular India. Normal to below-normal maximum temperatures are likely over some parts of the western Himalayan region, northeastern states and north Odisha, he said. Above-normal heatwave days are likely over most parts in the plains during this period. Ten to 20 days of heat wave are expected in different parts of the country against a normal of four to eight days, he said. Gujarat, central Maharashtra, north Karnataka, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, north Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh are likel

Extreme heat and weather conditions attributed to stagnant jet stream

Powerful weather forces are combining to create the planet-wide conditions, and there's unlikely to be relief from the scorching temperatures anytime soon

Tokyo's heat smashes 150-year trend as extreme weather bakes globe

The hottest place in country was Kiryu, a city about two hours north of Tokyo, where the maximum temperature hit 39.7C over the weekend. Japan's all-time record is 41.1C

As deaths due to heatwave rise in India, here's how you can stay safe

Heat stroke requires immediate medical attention as it can be fatal if not treated promptly