Heat Stroke A challenge for India - The Earth hangs in a delicate balance with fossil fuel resources dwindling and populati...
The Earth hangs in a delicate balance with fossil fuel resources dwindling and population soaring high.The temperatures across the globe are increasing at a rapid rate.
As India's summer is at its highest peak than ever before.
Heat waves are natural hazards impacting human and animal lives.
India has observed a significant mean temperature increase of 0.15°C per decade since 1950,according to Ministry of Earth Sciences.This observed warming is not occuring evenly across India.
Heat wave is considered if the maximum temperature of a station reaches at least 40°C or more for Plains and at least 30°C or more for Hilly regions.
One of the primary causes of heatwaves in India is global warming, which refers to the long-term increase in Earth's average temperature due to human activities.
Rapid urbanisation and the growth of concrete jungles in cities can lead to the phenomenon known as the "urban heat island effect.
Normal human body temperature stays within a narrow range of 36.3-37.3 degrees C.
It maintains thermal balance through radiation (40%), evaporation (30%), convection (27%), and conduction (3%). Any external or internal condition that increases body temperature invokes various physiological responses changing cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic systems, driven by increased blood flow to the skin and dehydration.
WHO has said that by 2035, the cost of damage caused directly by climate change could be as high as €4 billion,as well as estimated 2,50,000 additional deaths per year due to malnutrition, hear stroke and other temperature related illness.
Way forward
1) International Solar Alliance ,an initiative by India and France, must develop and deploy cost-effective and transformational solar energy solutions at a rapid pace.
2) Effective implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-30 with the State playing a leading role and sharing responsibility with other stakeholders is now the need of the hour.