Since April 2024, India has recorded unprecedented temperature anomalies every month, indicating severe climate changes affecting agriculture and economic stability. The warming trends are consistent with global patterns and exacerbated by climate crises, requiring urgent responses for mitigation. Experts stress the complexities in monitoring these changes as natural events interact with human-induced factors.
Since April 2024, temperature records in India have been alarming, with maximum, minimum, or mean temperatures hitting new highs each month, reflecting the serious implications of the climate crisis on all seasons. According to the India Meteorological Department, April 2024 noted the second highest mean temperatures in south peninsular India and the highest in east and northeast India since records began in 1901.
In May, the east and northeast regions recorded their third highest temperatures while June marked a peak maximum temperature for northwest India. July showed the entire country with the second highest mean temperature, particularly in east and northeast India, which had the highest maximum temperatures. August through October continued this trend with all areas documenting their highest minimum temperatures.
November also saw northwest India registering the highest maximum temperature, followed by December with similar records in south peninsular India. January 2025’s report confirmed the third highest maximum temperatures nationwide, with February setting a record for the highest maximum temperature ever recorded in the country. However, March signaled a potential respite from heat, though upcoming months may intensify the upcoming Indian summer.
The extensive heat impacts agriculture significantly, as 52% of India’s land relies on irrigation necessitated by the heat. Moreover, unseasonable warmth disrupts crop cycles and jeopardizes productivity, risking inflation in an already delicate economy. Notably, India’s temperature rise reflects similar global trends, as February indicated that for 19 of the past 20 months, global average surface air temperatures surpassed the critical increase of 1.5 degrees Celsius.
The warming trends are partly attributed to an El Niño phenomenon, while a subsequent weak La Niña emerged post-December 2023, failing to cool India as expected during January and February 2024. OP Sreejith from the Indian Meteorological Department remarked on the acceleration of warming, noting the importance of comprehensive monitoring to determine consistency regarding these trends.
Experts from the World Meteorological Organization have acknowledged the rapid pace of warming occurring globally and raised concerns regarding monitoring methods under the Paris Agreement, emphasizing the challenges in accurately predicting temperature thresholds. It has become clear that although currently experiencing unusual warming, it remains uncertain how long it will continue.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration indicates a shift towards ENSO-neutral conditions, suggesting prolonged warming effects as the cooling impact of La Niña dissipates in the following months. Historically, El Niño corresponds with harsher summers and weaker monsoons in India, contrasting with La Niña, which generally brings stronger monsoons and more abundant rainfall.
Nevertheless, these natural climatic phenomena occur within the larger framework of human-induced climate change, intensifying global temperatures and extreme weather patterns, as emphasized by the WMO. This necessitates urgent awareness and action to address the overarching climate crisis.
In summary, temperature anomalies in India have consistently reached record highs since April 2024, profoundly affecting agriculture and contributing to economic instability. The increasing temperatures are part of a broader global trend influenced by climate change. The complexities of monitoring and understanding these temperature variations remain a pressing concern as the climate crisis continues to escalate, highlighting the need for immediate and effective response strategies to mitigate its impacts.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
