It has become a new norm to hear about climate extreme events such as intense droughts, cyclones, storms, floods, and heatwaves daily. These events are becoming more intensified and more common as a result of global warming.
Photo Courtesy: Financial Express, May 2022
In simple words, how can we define climate extremes?
Climate extremes can be referred to as extreme events. It depends on the time and place in which weather, climate, or environmental conditions— such as temperature, precipitation, drought, or flooding crosses the threshold value of historical measurements. Climate extremes bring lots of challenges with them- Agriculture, water resources, infrastructure, economy and livelihood of millions of people. In addition to economic loss, disasters related to climate extremes also have traumatising effects on the people in the affected community.
Based on the climate records, the surface air temperature over India has risen by about 1 °C during 1901–2020. As the climate warms, the atmosphere can hold more water, meaning more intense evaporation (drought) and heavier precipitation (flooding).
How do Climate extremes impact India?
India is a land with a unique climatic regime, experiencing lots of climate extremes (Floods, droughts, heatwaves etc) every year.
Precipitation extremes:
India receives ~ 75-90 percent of its annual rainfall during the Indian summer monsoon season (JJAS). The agriculture industry of India and its growth depends directly on the variability of monsoon rainfall which further added to the growth of the Indian economy.
Any shortfall in monsoon rainfall can create drought conditions in the country, particularly in the drought-prone regions—which comprise one-sixth of the total area of the country. On the other hand, extremely heavy rainfall can result in flood situations and can cause heavy damage to crops, life and property. About 40 million hectares (MHA) in India are prone to floods, and an average of 7.5 MHA is hit by floods every year.
Temperature Extremes:
The surface air temperature is another important factor that affects agriculture and food security and its variability, therefore, plays an important role in the national economy. Every year India has experienced episodes of heat waves causing sunstroke, dehydration and death resulting in losses in standing crops, livestock and fisheries, affecting a majority of the population. Again, the heat wave led to an early spike in electricity demand further reducing coal reserves and resulting in huge power shortages affecting millions in India.
(Image courtesy: Manish Swarup/The Associated Press)
A man and a boy walk across an almost dried-up bed of the Yamuna River following hot weather in New Delhi, on May 2, 2022.
Recent tragedies:
Quite recently, as the monsoon started in India, North East Indians experienced a trail of devastation in terms of floods, landslides, loss of properties, lives and livestock etc. So far 3 people died due to landslides, 24, 681 people were affected by these events and ~1732.72 crop areas (in hectares) were affected as per ASDMA.
The New Haflong Station on May 16, 2022. Photo Courtesy: NDH (News Dima Hasao)
The Dima Hasao tragedy is reported as a combination of changes in the global climatic conditions coupled with local inputs (such as infrastructure development).
Summary:
The emerging human-induced changes in climate over the Indian region on account of anthropogenic greenhouse gases and aerosol forcing and changes in land use and land cover along with natural climatic variability results in an increased global mean temperature which contributes to an increase in the extremes over India. A critical assessment of climate extremes that change over time across various nooks and corners of the country is required as we move into an era of unprecedented climate change.
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