The recent global events have seen an alarming surge in extreme weather conditions, synchronously occurring with the relentless Covid-19 pandemic. Both these factors have been debilitating, generating a double whammy impact on people worldwide. Experts attribute such drastic climate alterations to the overarching effects of climate change.
Recent Escalations in Extreme Weather Events
The late June of this year saw unusual heatwave sweeping across Canada and parts of the United States, setting a new record for the region’s high temperatures and causing hundreds of fatalities. Moreover, Germany recently suffered from devastating floods, claiming over 180 lives. Also, flooding incidents have been recurrent throughout several Asian countries, including China, India, and Indonesia. Simultaneously, cyclones Tauktae and Yaas wreaked havoc on India’s west and east coasts, respectively.
Identifying the Causes of Extreme Weather Events
1. Rising Temperatures:
The Earth is witnessing a steady annual rise in temperatures where increased heat and sunlight result in a low-pressure system, thereby giving hurricanes and other tropical storms room for development.
2. High Atmospheric Winds:
Jet streams occur at junctions where cold polar air meets warm tropical air. These winds are responsible for maintaining and controlling the weather system journeying from west to east in the northern hemisphere and east to west in the southern hemisphere. However, they sometimes carry adverse weather, causing tornadoes.
3. Clash of Pressure Systems:
When extremely cold high-pressure systems encounter exceptionally warm low-pressure systems, there’s increased probability for high waves on sea surfaces. The former originates from sub-polar land, and the latter from temperate seas.
4. Disturbances in Weather Systems:
Weather systems, such as air masses and fronts, maintain smooth weather conditions. However, any disturbance can trigger disasters.
5. Climate Change:
There has been a significant rise in world temperatures over the past few decades, which continues to fluctuate annually. The primary contributor to this surge is the escalating levels of CO2 in the atmosphere.
6. Global Warming:
Global warming intensifies heatwaves and increases water vapor in the atmosphere, resulting in severe weather conditions like heavy rainfall and snowstorms.
Rising Concerns
The increase in average global temperature corresponds to widespread changes in weather patterns. Warmer air enables more moisture to be carried, leading to heavier rainfall eventually. Extreme weather events like heat waves and extreme rainfalls are expected to become more frequent or intense due to rising anthropogenic climate change. Anthropogenic Climate Change Theory suggests that human activities, especially fossil fuels burning, are primarily causing current climate changes. The Earth’s poles’ temperature is rising two to three times higher than the equator, resulting in a weakened mid-latitudes’ jet stream over Europe. This situation leads to slower-moving storms during summer and autumn, generating more intense, longer-lasting storms. A study also indicates human-induced global warming’s role in enhancing cyclonic storms’ frequency and intensity over the Arabian Sea.
Related Initiatives
Amid these concerns, measures have been taken to combat these issues. The National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and India’s Intended Nationally Determined Commitments (INDC) under the Paris Climate Deal are some efforts being undertaken to address these climatic challenges.