NewsBytes
    Hindi Tamil Telugu
    More
    In the news
    Narendra Modi
    Amit Shah
    Box Office Collection
    Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
    OTT releases
    Hindi Tamil Telugu
    NewsBytes
    User Placeholder

    Hi,

    Logout


    India Business World Politics Sports Technology Entertainment Auto Lifestyle Inspirational Career Bengaluru Delhi Mumbai Visual Stories Find Cricket Statistics Phones Reviews Fitness Bands Reviews Speakers Reviews

    Download Android App

    Follow us on
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Linkedin
     
    Home / News / Technology News / Deadly heatwaves will become more common in South Asia: Scientists
    Deadly heatwaves will become more common in South Asia: Scientists
    Technology

    Deadly heatwaves will become more common in South Asia: Scientists

    Written by Astha Oriel
    March 25, 2021 | 04:35 pm 3 min read
    Deadly heatwaves will become more common in South Asia: Scientists

    Potentially deadly heatwaves will likely become more commonplace in South Asian countries, including India, in the coming decades even if global warming is limited to 1.5 degree Celsius, according to a new study. According to the research, published in Geophysical Research Letters, with two degree of warming, the population's exposure to lethal temperatures rises by close to three times as compared to recent years.

    Increase in extreme heat can create unsafe labor conditions: Scientists

    Scientists, including those from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, said, "Such an increase in extreme heat events can create unsafe labor conditions in major crop-producing parts of India, such as Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, coastal regions, and urban centers like Kolkata, Mumbai, and Hyderabad."

    Need for adaptation is today, it's not a choice anymore

    "The future looks bad for South Asia, but the worst can be avoided by containing warming to as low as possible. The need for adaptation over South Asia is today. It's not a choice anymore," said Moetasim Ashfaq, study co-author from Oak Ridge National Laboratory. "There is a need to radically alter the current trajectory of greenhouse gas emissions," Ashfaq added.

    Estimated wet-bulb temperature residents could experience

    The researchers estimated the wet-bulb temperature residents could experience, which is similar to the heat index, as it takes into account both humidity and temperature. The study noted that a wet-bulb temperature of 32 degree Celsius is considered to be the point when labor becomes unsafe, and 35 degree Celsius is the limit to human survivability when the body can no longer cool itself.

    Researchers used climate simulations and projections of future population

    In the study, the researchers used climate simulations and projections of future population growth to estimate the number of people who will experience dangerous levels of heat stress in South Asia at global warming levels of 1.5 and two degree Celsius.

    Planet may reach 1.5 degree Celsius of warming by 2040

    While the planet has warmed by one degree Celsius since the start of the Industrial Revolution, it may reach 1.5 degree Celsius of warming by 2040, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. "Only half a degree increase from today is going to cause a widespread increase in these events," Ashfaq said.

    Increase in unsafe labor temperature, lethal temperature

    Based on the analysis, the scientists said that two degree of warming may increase people's exposure to unsafe labor temperatures by more than two-fold, and exposure to lethal temperatures by 2.7 times, as compared to recent years.

    South Asian cities lack regular access to air conditioning

    The scientists said, "Densely-populated South Asian cities already lack regular access to air conditioning, and about 60 percent of their populations perform agricultural work and cannot escape the heat by staying indoors." "This deadline leaves little time for South Asian countries to adapt since the people there are especially vulnerable to deadly heatwaves with the area already experiencing very hot, humid summers," they added.

    Policy framework needed to fight heat stress: Scientist

    "A policy framework is very much needed to fight against heat stress and heat wave-related problems," said TV Lakshmi Kumar, an atmospheric scientist at SRM Institute of Science and Technology in Chennai, who was not involved in the study.

    Share this timeline
    Facebook
    Whatsapp
    Twitter
    Linkedin
    Related News
    Climate Change
    Research

    Climate Change

    India is a red-hot investment for clean energy transition: Kerry John Kerry
    Climate change may have influenced the emergence of coronavirus: Study Coronavirus
    After pandemic warning, Bill Gates warns about climate change, bioterrorism Bill Gates
    From droughts to floods: Chennai's water problem needs immediate solving Tamil Nadu

    Research

    Researchers successfully establish two-way communication with sleeping lucid dreamers Technology
    Scientists unravel what makes some people COVID-19 superspreaders Coronavirus
    COVID-19 patients have higher risk of dying after cardiac arrest Sweden
    WHO team visits Wuhan hospital that had early virus patients Wuhan
    Next News Article

    Love Technology News?

    Subscribe to stay updated.

    Science Thumbnail
    Indian Premier League (IPL) Celebrity Hollywood Bollywood UEFA Champions League Tennis Football Smartphones Cryptocurrency Upcoming Movies Premier League Cricket News Latest automobiles Latest Cars Upcoming Cars Latest Bikes Upcoming Tablets
    About Us Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Contact Us Ethical Conduct Grievance Redressal News News Archive Topics Archive Download DevBytes Find Cricket Statistics
    Follow us on
    Facebook Twitter Linkedin
    All rights reserved © NewsBytes 2023