Kunal RastogiAIR 15 · CSE 2023 · 248 wordsTheir whole copy
Opening · a definition
IMD defines Heat waves as abnormally high temperature in particular area. Recently more than 80 people died of Heat waves in Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh.
Body · points and prose
- Heatwaves
- Plain areas
- temp > 40°C
- departure
- normal: 4.5°C to 6.4°C
- severe: > 6.4°C, > 45°C
- Coastal/hill areas
- temp (Hill) > 30°C
- coast > 35°C
- departure
- normal: 4.5°C to 6.4°C
- severe: > 6.4°C
Reasons for Heat wave
- Anti-cyclonic conditions with clear skies & high relative humidity eg India.
- Heat dome effect eg Canada, USA.
- Heatdome (High Pre)
- Arrows pointing down to Heat trap
- local winds - eg > Loo, Khamsin (India) (Africa)
- Warm air fronts and masses steered with the help of Rossby waves of Jet streams - eg > Spain.
Impact of Rising heat waves on India
- Increased instances of Heat Strokes
- Increased frequency of forest fires eg > Himachal pradesh
- Reduction in productive Man hours. eg > McKinsey → 12 bn $ lost in India.
- Adverse effect on infrastructure. eg > Melting of Roads.
- Urban Heat island effect.
- Reduced agri productivity - eg > wheat.
- Increasing instance of thunderstorms
Measures to Mitigate the impact
- National Action Plan based on Sendai framework. eg > Gujarat Action plan.
- following the India Cooling Action Plan
- Cool roof policy of Telangana → install Solar tiles on roof tops to increase Albedo
- Advisory issued to keep vulnerable sections of society indoors eg > old age people
- Specific Hospital beds equipped with ORS and emergency first aid
- Afforestation programme under Miyawaki techieq. eg > Nagar van Scheme
- Water bodies. eg > Amrit Dharohar
Close · a summary
Above steps would aid in mitigating the harmful effects of Heat waves thereby ensuring protection of life