Heat Waves

In News

• There are heat wave-like conditions across the country as reported by the India Meteorological Division (IMD).
  • As per the India Meteorological Division (IMD) report, 16 of the 36 of the meteorological subdivisions in India are facing heat wave-like conditions.

What is a Heat wave?

• A Heat Wave is a period of abnormally high temperatures, more than the normal maximum temperature that occurs during the summer season in the North-Western parts of India. 
• Heat Waves typically occur between March and June, and in some rare cases even extend till July. 
• The extreme temperatures and resultant atmospheric conditions adversely affect people living in these regions as they cause physiological stress, sometimes resulting in death.

Reasons for more Heat waves

• The early start is because of formation of anticyclones in western Rajasthan during March coupled with absence of rain-bearing western disturbances.
• Thus, it led to blowing up dry winds from the region whose temperature kept on surging because of the arrival of summer, to take the form of heat waves.
• Urban heat island effects can make ambient temperatures feel 3 to 4 degrees more than what they are.
• High intensity of UV rays in medium-high heat wave zones.
• Combination of exceptional heat stress and a predominantly rural population makes India vulnerable to heat waves.

Impact of Heat waves

• They put enormous pressure on health and emergency services.
• They increase strain on water, energy and transportation resulting in power shortages or even blackouts.
• They adversely affect agriculture in terms of yields primarily rabi crops thus creating stress among farmers, also causing livelihood stress.
• Extreme heat waves also cause loss of livestock which is an important component of agrarian economy.
• Heat waves induce loss of human productivity thus impacting the income and well being.
• They lead to wildfires and severe drought conditions.

Strategies to Address Heat waves

• Establishment of Early Warning System and Inter-Agency Coordination for prediction of heat waves and issuance of alert. 
• Public Awareness and community outreach to increase public awareness on how to protect against extreme heat through different mediums. 
• Capacity building and training programme for health care professionals at different levels to recognize and respond to heat wave related illnesses. 
• Collaboration with non-government organizations (NGOs) and civil society to provide support in distress situations.
• Encourage traditional methods of handling heat waves like wearing cotton clothes etc.
• Reviewing labour laws and other regulations taking climatic conditions into account.
• Improving the infrastructure setup like including shadowed windows, insulated houses etc