Climate Change cause of deadly heat waves, say scientists

By S R Ranjan: Is climate change responsible for the current prolonged heat wave in large parts of South Asia, especially India and Pakistan? Evidently the answer is yes! Climate Change made devastating early heat wave in India and Pakistan, 30 times more likely, say scientists at World Weather Attribution.

Reportedly, a team of scientists, at the World Weather Attribution, from different countries  — India, Pakistan, the Netherlands, France, Switzerland, New Zealand, Denmark, United States of America and the United Kingdom — collaborated to assess to what extent human-induced climate change altered the likelihood and intensity of the heat wave.

In a report released May 2022, the scientists found that because of climate change, the probability of an event such as that in 2022 has increased by a factor of about 30. The same event would have been about 1C (a full degree Celsius) cooler in a pre-industrial climate. “With future global warming, heat waves like this will become even more common and hotter. At the global mean temperature scenario of +2C such a heat wave would become an additional factor of 2-20 more likely and 0.5-1.5C hotter compared to 2022,” states the report. “It is important to note that this early heat wave was accompanied by much below average rainfall and humidity and thus constituted a dry heat wave, rendering humidity much less important for health impacts than heat waves occurring late in the season and in coastal areas”.

This year, 2022, reportedly, March was the hottest in India since records began 122 years ago and in Pakistan, the highest worldwide positive temperature anomaly during March was recorded. According to report, with 62 percent less than normal rainfall reported over Pakistan and 71 percent below normal over India, the month was extremely dry making the conditions for local heating from the land surface. Over the month of April, the heat wave continued and reached its preliminary peak towards the end. India’s 70 percent was affected by the heat wave by April end.

However, the report states, “While some losses will inevitably occur due to the extreme heat, it is misleading to assume that the impacts are inevitable.” Adaptation to extreme heat, heat action plans that include early warning and early action, awareness raising, behaviour changes and supportive public services can reduce losses and protect people from worsening heat waves.

- Singh Rakesh Ranjan

Freelance Journalist

 (Representational images, Sources)