Pre-monsoon and post-monsoon warming abnormal in Delhi: study
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This year's Indian summer has been recorded as the second hottest pre-monsoon in known history. However, a new study states that the winter and post-monsoon seasons are warming up faster.
The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) is attempting to understand the warming trend in a comprehensive way. The study was meant to comprehend the combined effect of unseasonal heatwaves caused by climate change. The team assessed all three dimensions of heat stress - surface air temperature, land surface temperature, and relative humidity.
The new study by the Urban Lab says the land surface temperatures in Delhi have been the highest since 2010. The capital city has recorded a significant positive anomaly (temperature higher than expected) on all three temperature parameters. "In Delhi, the air temperature has been 1.77 degrees Celsius hotter than 2010, and the land surface temperature 1.95 degrees Celsius hotter".
Experts noted that the industrial and agricultural zone recorded the highest increase in land surface temperature between March to May. These regions are at Delhi's periphery in the north, southwest, and northwest.
In June 2022, the daily average heat index crossed 40°C. March and April have also been unusually dry in the city. With scattered rain spells in May, the humidity started rising ahead of the monsoon.
Comparing the temperature in May to previous years, the report noted that the highest land surface temperature, 53.9°C, was observed on May 16, 2020. On May 14, 2022, it was 51.8°C. In the years before, the maximum land surface temperature was in the mid-40s.
Findings also noted that the green pockets in Delhi have not heated up before like they did this year. During the heatwave of May 2022, the land surface temperature in the city shot above 38°C. The temperature of the water bodies also rose to 29-30°C in May. They maintain a temperature below 27°C in March.
The air temperature variation in Delhi was noted to be highest in Chandni Chowk with an average of 40.39°C on May 14. Punjabi Bagh followed close at 40.29°C, Mundka at 39.5°C, and Paharganj at 39.1°C.
