Exploring the Urban Heat Island Effect, El Niño, La Niña, and Heat Stress Dynamics in India
The Urban Heat Island Effect occurs when urban areas experience higher temperatures compared to their surrounding rural areas. This happens due to human activities and infrastructure in cities, which absorb and retain heat more efficiently than natural landscapes.
The El Niño Effect refers to unusually warm ocean temperatures in parts of the Pacific Ocean, leading to changes in global weather patterns. The current El Niño cycle, which began in 2023, is contributing to the extreme summer conditions in India. However, as El Niño weakens, La Niña is expected to take its place.
La Niña is characterized by cooling of Pacific Ocean waters and is associated with widespread changes in weather patterns. Once La Niña takes effect, India is likely to experience a good monsoon season.
Heatwaves occur due to various changes in the atmosphere and oceans, leading to heat stress in humans. Dry heat stress occurs in regions with high temperatures and low humidity, like Central and North Western India. Moist heat stress occurs when high temperatures are combined with humidity, affecting regions like the eastern coastal areas. In the last 40 years, India has seen a 30% increase in heat stress cases, with temperatures rising 4 to 5 degrees Celsius above normal summer temperatures in Central India, North West India, and Eastern coastal areas.
