Heating up: Long-term data has revealed Indian summers have become warmer over the past 22 years | Photo: Outlook

Indian summers have before more intense since 1998, reveals long-term data

There has been a ‘clear shift’ in the intensity of the Indian summer since 1998, according to experts, who have linked the trend to the climate crisis. Data from 1971 onwards shows that the Indian sub-continent has recorded warmer than normal summers for the past 22 years and heatwave events have also more than doubled in that time period. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted a harsh summer this year, with very hot days and warm nights. 

Winter is still not officially over, but some parts of India, such as Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and even Himachal Pradesh have already recorded above-normal temperatures. Some experts said the change in weather patterns could be because the La Niña years may be getting warmer than El Niño events of the past.

The climate crisis is set to cost top Indian companies around ₹7.14 lakh crore over the next five years, according to a report by CDP. The organisation based the number around responses it received from 42 of the 220 Indian companies disclosing their climate data. 

Atlantic Ocean current weakest in over a millennium: Study

Researchers revealed the Atlantic Ocean current, which plays a major role in determining global weather patterns, is currently in the weakest state it has been in, in over a millennium. The current, called the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), moves warm water from the tropics to the northern hemisphere, releasing heat as it flows, which keeps countries warm.

The new study, published in Nature Geoscience, combined data from other studies to create a consistent graph of how the AMOC has evolved over 1,600 years. It found that the current was stable until the late 19th century. The researchers observed a weakening since 1850, which became more drastic in the mid-20th century.   

New tech gives real-time deforestation updates even amidst thick cloud cover

New technology will now make it possible to get real-time updates on deforestation even on days where there is a thick cloud cover. World Resources Institute’s Global Forest Watch will rely on Radar for Detecting Deforestation (RADD) alerts that use radar data from the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-1 satellites. These satellites observe the tropics every six to 12 days. The long radio wavelength of these satellites can penetrate through not just clouds, but also haze and smoke, unlike optical sensors, used in NASA’s Landsat satellites, which can capture images only on cloud-free days. This new technology will cut down on the delay in detecting deforestation, experts said. 

18%-20% permafrost degradation by 2100 with global warming of 1.5°C-2°C: Study

A new study expects permafrost degradation, in a moderate emission scenario – warming of 1.5°C-2°C – to be 18% to 20% by the year 2100. The study also found permafrost in the southern part of the northern hemisphere to be more vulnerable to warming. Also different warming scenarios will affect the spatial and temporal patterns of melting permafrost, the study found.