Extreme weather events have increased in India in recent years. Examine the elements influencing this pattern.
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In recent years, India has been grappling with an upsurge in extreme weather events, ranging from intense heatwaves to unprecedented rainfall leading to floods. Such phenomena not only disrupt daily life but also pose substantial threats to agriculture, economy, and biodiversity. Ex-Extreme weather related events caused 573 disasters in India between 1970 and 2021 that claimed 1,38,377 lives.
Factors Contributing to Increased Extreme Weather Events in India
Way Ahead
Going ahead, by understanding and adapting to these extreme weather events, India can not only safeguard its populace but also nurture a harmonious relationship with its diverse and rich environmental heritage. This journey would be a testimony to the synergic coexistence of development and nature, treading a path of resilience and sustainable growth.
India’s increase in extreme weather events in recent years can be attributed to several interrelated factors:
Climate Change: Rising global temperatures have intensified the frequency and severity of extreme weather events. Warmer air holds more moisture, leading to heavier rainfall during monsoon seasons, resulting in floods and landslides. Additionally, higher temperatures contribute to more intense heatwaves and prolonged droughts.
Urbanization: Rapid and unplanned urbanization has exacerbated the impact of extreme weather. Urban areas with inadequate drainage systems experience severe flooding. The replacement of natural landscapes with impervious surfaces increases runoff and decreases natural water absorption, heightening flood risks.
Deforestation and Land Use Changes: Large-scale deforestation for agriculture, urban development, and infrastructure projects disrupts natural ecosystems. This leads to soil erosion, reduced water retention, and increased vulnerability to landslides and floods.
Industrialization and Pollution: Industrial activities contribute to air pollution, which can affect local weather patterns. For instance, pollutants can alter cloud formation and precipitation patterns, potentially leading to irregular rainfall and extreme weather events.
Global Weather Patterns: Phenomena like El Niño and La Niña significantly influence weather patterns in India. El Niño typically results in reduced monsoon rainfall, while La Niña can cause excessive rainfall and flooding.
Glacial Melt: In the Himalayas, rising temperatures accelerate glacial melt, increasing the risk of glacial lake outburst floods and altering river flows, contributing to downstream flooding.
These factors, often interacting, drive the increasing incidence of extreme weather events across India.
India’s increase in extreme weather events in recent years can be attributed to several interrelated factors:
Climate Change: Rising global temperatures have intensified the frequency and severity of extreme weather events. Warmer air holds more moisture, leading to heavier rainfall during monsoon seasons, resulting in floods and landslides. Additionally, higher temperatures contribute to more intense heatwaves and prolonged droughts.
Urbanization: Rapid and unplanned urbanization has exacerbated the impact of extreme weather. Urban areas with inadequate drainage systems experience severe flooding. The replacement of natural landscapes with impervious surfaces increases runoff and decreases natural water absorption, heightening flood risks.
Deforestation and Land Use Changes: Large-scale deforestation for agriculture, urban development, and infrastructure projects disrupts natural ecosystems. This leads to soil erosion, reduced water retention, and increased vulnerability to landslides and floods.
Industrialization and Pollution: Industrial activities contribute to air pollution, which can affect local weather patterns. For instance, pollutants can alter cloud formation and precipitation patterns, potentially leading to irregular rainfall and extreme weather events.
Global Weather Patterns: Phenomena like El Niño and La Niña significantly influence weather patterns in India. El Niño typically results in reduced monsoon rainfall, while La Niña can cause excessive rainfall and flooding.
Glacial Melt: In the Himalayas, rising temperatures accelerate glacial melt, increasing the risk of glacial lake outburst floods and altering river flows, contributing to downstream flooding.
These factors, often interacting, drive the increasing incidence of extreme weather events across India.
India’s increase in extreme weather events in recent years can be attributed to several interrelated factors:
Climate Change: Rising global temperatures have intensified the frequency and severity of extreme weather events. Warmer air holds more moisture, leading to heavier rainfall during monsoon seasons, resulting in floods and landslides. Additionally, higher temperatures contribute to more intense heatwaves and prolonged droughts.
Urbanization: Rapid and unplanned urbanization has exacerbated the impact of extreme weather. Urban areas with inadequate drainage systems experience severe flooding. The replacement of natural landscapes with impervious surfaces increases runoff and decreases natural water absorption, heightening flood risks.
Deforestation and Land Use Changes: Large-scale deforestation for agriculture, urban development, and infrastructure projects disrupts natural ecosystems. This leads to soil erosion, reduced water retention, and increased vulnerability to landslides and floods.
Industrialization and Pollution: Industrial activities contribute to air pollution, which can affect local weather patterns. For instance, pollutants can alter cloud formation and precipitation patterns, potentially leading to irregular rainfall and extreme weather events.
Global Weather Patterns: Phenomena like El Niño and La Niña significantly influence weather patterns in India. El Niño typically results in reduced monsoon rainfall, while La Niña can cause excessive rainfall and flooding.
Glacial Melt: In the Himalayas, rising temperatures accelerate glacial melt, increasing the risk of glacial lake outburst floods and altering river flows, contributing to downstream flooding.
These factors, often interacting, drive the increasing incidence of extreme weather events across India.
India’s increase in extreme weather events in recent years can be attributed to several interrelated factors:
Climate Change: Rising global temperatures have intensified the frequency and severity of extreme weather events. Warmer air holds more moisture, leading to heavier rainfall during monsoon seasons, resulting in floods and landslides. Additionally, higher temperatures contribute to more intense heatwaves and prolonged droughts.
Urbanization: Rapid and unplanned urbanization has exacerbated the impact of extreme weather. Urban areas with inadequate drainage systems experience severe flooding. The replacement of natural landscapes with impervious surfaces increases runoff and decreases natural water absorption, heightening flood risks.
Deforestation and Land Use Changes: Large-scale deforestation for agriculture, urban development, and infrastructure projects disrupts natural ecosystems. This leads to soil erosion, reduced water retention, and increased vulnerability to landslides and floods.
Industrialization and Pollution: Industrial activities contribute to air pollution, which can affect local weather patterns. For instance, pollutants can alter cloud formation and precipitation patterns, potentially leading to irregular rainfall and extreme weather events.
Global Weather Patterns: Phenomena like El Niño and La Niña significantly influence weather patterns in India. El Niño typically results in reduced monsoon rainfall, while La Niña can cause excessive rainfall and flooding.
Glacial Melt: In the Himalayas, rising temperatures accelerate glacial melt, increasing the risk of glacial lake outburst floods and altering river flows, contributing to downstream flooding.
These factors, often interacting, drive the increasing incidence of extreme weather events across India.
India’s increase in extreme weather events in recent years can be attributed to several interrelated factors:
Climate Change: Rising global temperatures have intensified the frequency and severity of extreme weather events. Warmer air holds more moisture, leading to heavier rainfall during monsoon seasons, resulting in floods and landslides. Additionally, higher temperatures contribute to more intense heatwaves and prolonged droughts.
Urbanization: Rapid and unplanned urbanization has exacerbated the impact of extreme weather. Urban areas with inadequate drainage systems experience severe flooding. The replacement of natural landscapes with impervious surfaces increases runoff and decreases natural water absorption, heightening flood risks.
Deforestation and Land Use Changes: Large-scale deforestation for agriculture, urban development, and infrastructure projects disrupts natural ecosystems. This leads to soil erosion, reduced water retention, and increased vulnerability to landslides and floods.
Industrialization and Pollution: Industrial activities contribute to air pollution, which can affect local weather patterns. For instance, pollutants can alter cloud formation and precipitation patterns, potentially leading to irregular rainfall and extreme weather events.
Global Weather Patterns: Phenomena like El Niño and La Niña significantly influence weather patterns in India. El Niño typically results in reduced monsoon rainfall, while La Niña can cause excessive rainfall and flooding.
These factors, often interacting, drive the increasing incidence of extreme weather events across India.