Why is it in the news?
- India’s North East region, like many other parts of the world, is experiencing record-breaking temperatures due to a combination of factors, including global warming, the influence of El Niño, and decreasing forest cover.
More about the news:
Heatwave and Climate Trends in North East India:
- The North Eastern region grapples with heavy rainfall from remnants of Cyclone Remal, causing landslides in Mizoram and floods in Manipur’s Imphal.
- This comes shortly after the region experienced record-breaking temperatures, with maximums exceeding 40 degrees Celsius.
- According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), several stations in the North East recorded their highest-ever maximum temperatures in May, with departures from normal temperatures exceeding 6 degrees Celsius in many areas.
- These extreme weather events highlight the region’s vulnerability to climate change and the urgent need for adaptation measures.
- Over the years, the North East region has experienced a gradual increase in temperatures, with average annual mean temperatures rising by 0.67 to 1.06 degrees Celsius from 1901 to 2023, according to IMD data.
- Nagaland witnessed the highest rise in annual mean temperatures, while Meghalaya saw the lowest increase during this period.
- A 2022 study by the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP) revealed moderate warming of summer maximum and winter minimum temperatures in the region between 1990 and 2019.
- For example, Arunachal Pradesh saw a rise of 0.16 to 0.27 degrees Celsius in summer maximum temperature and 0.15 to 0.33 degrees Celsius in winter minimum temperature during this period.
- In 2023, the North East experienced record-breaking temperatures, with Sikkim being the worst affected state, recording the warmest year since 1901. Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura also reported their warmest years on record.
Factors Contributing to Rising Temperatures:
- Greenhouse gas emissions, particularly from burning fossil fuels, are the primary cause of global warming since the Industrial Revolution.
- Human activities have led to unprecedented levels of carbon dioxide and methane emissions, resulting in a 1.1-degree Celsius global temperature increase since the 1850-1900 period.
- El Niño, characterized by abnormal warming of equatorial Pacific Ocean waters, also contributed to recent record-breaking temperatures.
- Local factors such as deforestation and changes in land use can exacerbate heat levels by altering surface characteristics, reducing natural cooling mechanisms.
| El Nino:
· El Nino is the warming of sea waters in the Central-east Equatorial Pacific that occurs every few years (Warm phase off the coast of Peru). · During El Nino, surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific rise which weakens the trade winds — east-west winds that blow near the Equator. · Due to El Nino, warm western pacific mound created in normal years start receding back because of which warm water gets accumulated near eastern Pacific Ocean due to el nino current. · It thus brings warm water from the western Pacific towards America. |
Future Climate Projections for North East India:
- Without significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, temperatures in the North East could surpass the 1.5-degree Celsius threshold by 2035-2040.
- Higher temperatures will lead to increased rainfall due to greater moisture retention in the atmosphere.
- Every 1-degree Celsius rise in temperature allows the atmosphere to hold about 7% more moisture, intensifying storms and causing severe flooding.
- NH Ravindranath warns of a potential 15-25% increase in rainfall in the next 15-20 years, with high-intensity rainfall events becoming more frequent.
- States like Manipur are already experiencing heightened flooding, with Mizoram, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh identified as highly vulnerable to climate risks.
