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recent years, the world has witnessed extreme weather events that underscore the growing severity of climate change. India’s capital Delhi joined the list of regions that have seen record temperatures – mostly above 50 degrees Celsius. The temperature in Delhi reportedly reached 52.9 degrees Celsius, the highest ever in India. Another alarming development was reported from Iran where the heat index caused the temperature to soar to an unprecedented 66 degrees Celsius in July last year. These examples show the major shift Earth’s climate is undergoing, causing concern among environmentalists.
What is heat index?
The heat index, often referred to as the “feels-like” temperature, combines air temperature and relative humidity to estimate the human-perceived temperature. High humidity levels impede the body’s ability to cool itself through sweating, making the heat feel much more intense. A heat index of 66 degrees Celsius is life-threatening, exceeding the thresholds that the human body can endure for extended periods.
What about Delhi?
According to Kuldeep Srivastava, regional head of India Meteorological Department (IMD), the already high temperature in Delhi broke record because of hot winds from Rajasthan.. Parts of Delhi are particularly susceptible to the early arrival of these hot winds, worsening the already severe weather. Areas like Mungeshpur, Narela and Najafgarh are the first to experience the full force of these hot winds,” Mr Srivastava said. Mungeshpur in northwest Delhi is the place where 52.9 degrees Celsius was reportedly recorded.
