2024 is experiencing record-breaking heatwaves, with global temperatures soaring due to climate change and El Niño. The article delves into these causes, their impact worldwide, and solutions like urban green spaces and radiant cooling to mitigate the effects.
Do you remember the summer season two years ago? In 2022, it was called the Hottest Summer Ever. That year, the heat broke a 122-year-old record. However, in the past summer of 2023, the weather was exceptionally warm, hot enough for scientists to conclude that it has been the first-ever summer in the last 2000 years of the history of the northern hemisphere of the Earth.
Now, we arrive at the year 2024, a year that has shattered all previous records. January 2024 was the hottest January ever recorded. February followed as the hottest February, March as the hottest March, and April was declared the hottest month ever recorded. For the last 11 months, Earth has experienced unprecedented heat.
The scorching temperatures we endure today are not normal, and the entire world is affected. Last month, the South Indian cities, as well as Southeast Asian countries including Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, dealt with record heatwaves. The heat index in the Philippines even crossed a staggering 53°C. India was not spared either, with forest fires being reported in different locations such as Uttaranchal, Orissa, Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Jharkhand. This summer season’s heat was raised to another level where even southern Bengal and Kerala preferred cooler temperatures and experienced heat waves with North India temperatures going beyond 46 °C.
The Causes: Global Warming and Climate Change
Global warming and climate change are the primary culprits behind these extreme temperatures. However, they are not the sole reasons. Let's delve into two additional factors contributing to this phenomenon and explore local solutions to mitigate the heat.
El Niño: The Climate Cycle
Extreme weather events are not confined to India or Southeast Asia; they are a global issue. In South America, particularly Brazil, severe floods recently displaced over 150,000 people. Meanwhile, Southern Africa is experiencing a drought unparalleled in recent decades. The root cause of these events is El Niño, a natural climate cycle that occurs every 5-7 years, becoming more extreme due to climate change. El Niño, or the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), significantly impacts global weather patterns, second only to the Earth-Sun relationship in its influence.
Understanding El Niño
El Niño affects the Pacific Ocean, where trade winds typically blow from the Americas toward Asia and Australia. These winds facilitate the upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich water near South America, leading to hot water accumulation near Australia, and causing evaporation, cloud formation, and rainfall in Australia. However, when these trade winds weaken, upwelling diminishes, and the hot water remains, altering global weather patterns. This leads to the occurrence of high temperatures that cause heat waves and reduced humidity, thus increasing the likelihood of wildfires in regions such as Australia and Southeast Asia.
La Niña: The Opposite Effect
La Niña, El Niño’s counterpart, strengthens trade winds, causing colder water to flow towards South America and hotter water towards Australia, leading to more rain in Australia and potential flooding. La Niña events often last longer, sometimes up to four years.
Heat Index and Urban Heat Island Effect
Temperature alone isn't the best indicator of heat's impact on us; humidity plays a crucial role. High humidity makes it harder for our bodies to cool through sweating. The Heat Index combines temperature and humidity to reflect how hot it feels. For instance, a temperature of 35°C with 50% humidity feels like 41°C. High heat indices, like the 53°C recorded in the Philippines, can be lethal.
The Urban Heat Island Effect
Urban areas with concrete, asphalt, and tall buildings absorb and retain heat, making them significantly hotter than areas with trees and parks. This phenomenon, known as the Urban Heat Island Effect, was studied in Delhi, revealing that some urban areas were 3°C to 8°C hotter than greener areas. Solutions include increasing urban greenery, reducing car usage, and promoting public transport to mitigate this effect.
Innovative Cooling Solutions
Traditional cooling methods, such as white-painted roofs that reflect sunlight and natural ventilation in buildings, can help. Radiant cooling technology, which uses pipes with cold water to cool buildings, is a modern yet ancient technique that saves energy and money.
Most of the countries' Governments must prioritize making cities greener and implementing cooling solutions to combat the intensifying heat waves. Future projections indicate that by 2050, many areas will experience heat waves lasting 220 to 250 days a year. Immediate action is essential to make our cities livable and reduce the impact of these extreme weather events.
If you found this article informative, consider exploring more about how banning cars can make cities more livable. Thank you for reading!
