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When art wilts under the sun

admin — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 19:07:00 +0000

During the Tamil months of Chithirai and Vaikasi (April to June), temple festivals gather momentum across Tamil Nadu. On festival days, village squares and temple grounds slowly fill up even as the sun beats down mercilessly through the afternoon. By evening, performances of song, dance, drama, and ritual begin; people drop in, stay awhile, applaud, and move on, as the night wears on. For the artistes, though, the work starts hours before the first drumbeat and stretches well past the last act, and includes long spells of waiting, preparation, and travel before the performance itself.

A living archive

Tamil Nadu has a vast tradition of folk arts that span rituals, storytelling, music, and movement — from Koothu forms and Oppari lamentations to Parai drumming, Devarattam, Bommalattam (puppetry), and performances in front of the village deity. Many of these traditions are inseparable from temple festivals, agricultural cycles, and caste- and region-specific practices, and form part of a living cultural archive sustained often through oral transmission. In recent years, the State has sought to safeguard and promote these traditions through cultural festivals, documentation, and platforms that bring rural artistes to urban audiences. However, artistes face multiple pressures — among them is heat stress, an overlooked but increasingly felt challenge while performing under open skies.

The Kaniyan Koothu is an ancient folk performance tradition practised by members of the Kaniyan, a Scheduled Tribe community, in Tirunelveli district. Combining music, dance, singing, and narration, it is typically staged at temple festivals, particularly in rituals dedicated to the folk deity, Sudalai, where performers invoke the deity’s spirit through the recital.

Ganesha Moorthy, 45, from Vadakkankulam, describes his art form as an oral tradition passed down through generations. Performing largely across Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Thoothukudi, and Kanniyakumari, in a troupe of seven to eight members, he said, “We sing the stories of Sivasudalai Maadan, Pechiamma, Karuppasamy, and also Sivapuranam, Empuranam, Kannagi Puranam, and so on.”

Made to wait

Their performances usually run through the night, from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. “After the show, it takes an hour or so to pack our things up, and then we are usually made to wait for a couple of hours for payment, as the village head has some work. Sometimes, we are given tea,” Mr. Moorthy said, adding that the troupe typically arrives at venues well in advance during the day and spends hours waiting before the performance begins.

Hours spent waiting in open grounds, rehearsing under tin roofs, putting on and performing in heavy costumes are factors that are turning summer festivals into tests of endurance for folk artistes, who say rising heat is becoming another challenge layered onto the existing concerns such as shrinking patronage and dwindling audiences for folk arts.

About 74% of the people in Tamil Nadu are now living in areas where the air temperatures regularly hit over 35 degrees Celsius, according to a study released by the State Planning Commission (SPC) in 2025. Of the State’s 389 administrative blocks, 94 have experienced a ‘very high change’ in heat intensity from 1981 to 2023.

Living on the fringes: Many folk traditions are inseparable from temple festivals, agricultural cycles, and caste- and region-specific practices — forming part of a living cultural archive sustained largely via oral transmission.
| Photo Credit:
N. RAJESH

M. Chandrakumar, a resident of Kilnathur in Tiruvannamalai district, is an Oppari singer who has been performing for 30 years. While Oppari remains his primary art form, he trained in Periya Melam to supplement his income, as he says Oppari performances occur sporadically, typically following deaths in and around his village and often only for a few days each month. Despite three decades of experience, he says he may not be able to perform as long as the elders, from whom he learnt. “Around katthiri (the peak summer), it is not easy to perform without wearing slippers,” he adds.

In addition to the rising average daytime heat, nearly 70% of the districts in Tamil Nadu now have “very warm nights”, with temperatures between 26°C and 28°C. High night-time heat creates a cycle of thermal stress with no breaks, because it prevents the human body from shedding the heat accumulated during the day.

Lack of nocturnal relief

When minimum temperatures stay between 26°C and 28°C, the body’s natural cooling mechanisms are disrupted, leading to cumulative exhaustion, poor sleep quality, and increased cardiovascular strain. This lack of nocturnal relief is particularly dangerous for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and outdoor workers, as it significantly diminishes physical recovery and long-term productivity, the SPC study notes.

According to the study, the number of administrative blocks recording high night-time minimums has surged from just six blocks 20 years ago to 80 blocks today. Several artistes say many among them live with chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, which may force them to step away from performance earlier than expected. While some take comfort in their children’s education as a safety net, it also means the younger generation is less likely to enter the arts, as many folk artistes themselves hope their children will move on to greener pastures. With senior performers retiring sooner and fewer successors stepping in, what does this mean for the future of folk traditions? Anitha Pottamkulam, Director-Culture, Dakshina Chitra, says that while factors such as migration have always affected the continuity of traditional art, climate change has worsened the situation. “They are dislocated. There is a loss of habitat and a loss of access to the materials and ecological resources they need to practise their craft. To that extent, climate and ecological change definitely adds to the existing challenges,” she says.

According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), traditional understandings of climate-related loss have largely centred on impacts that are measurable and monetisable, while non-economic losses — those not reducible to financial terms — remain significant yet under-recognised. Cultural heritage, in particular, has been largely absent from climate agreements and policy discussions, the UNFCCC notes. While heat affects everyone and all performances, its impact is not experienced uniformly. Human vulnerability to heat extends beyond physiological responses to include socio-economic factors such as income, access to healthcare, and housing conditions, the SPC study notes.

Little basic comfort

G. Sundarrajan of Poovulagin Nanbargal and a member of the Tamil Nadu Governing Council on Climate Change says folk artistes are frequently transported in cramped vans and rest at government schools, community halls, or in asbestos-roof shelters, leaving little scope for their bodies to thermoregulate. “When it comes to upper-caste arts, performances are often held in air-conditioned sabhas, but OBC and Dalit artistes usually perform in open rural spaces. Apart from differences in remuneration, there is a lack of basic comfort for the artistes,” he says.

For Shyamala and members of her Thirunangaiyar Kaali Aattam Kalai Kuzhu, an all-transwomen troupe from Cuddalore district, the discomforts are compounded. “We can’t even imagine using the restrooms at most places as they are all makeshift ones,” she says. As a result, they often avoid drinking too much water or even tea, even while wearing elaborate costumes and performing for long hours.

If performers face heat-related challenges, instrument makers — particularly those making thol karuvi or skin-based instruments — experience them even more acutely. P. Matheswaran, an Aadhi Melampractitioner from Salem district, describes enduring heat beyond performance hours. “The instrument we use is a thol karuvi. It holds the sruthi correctly only for a short period, so we have to keep heating it in a very specific way and for a set duration, not for too long, to get the right tone. During the summer months, it is a struggle to sit and hold the instrument, heating it over the fire,” he says.

Artistes spend long hours outdoors, performing through the night and then facing the morning heat, often without adequate time for their bodies to recover. “I started when I was a 10-year-old boy. In these 30 years, I can see how much things have changed. Our group has around 12 people. Many of them, including me, get exhausted more often now, or struggle to sleep properly after a show, even on nights when we don’t perform,” says Mr. Chandrakumar. During the off-season, he adds, they also take up daily wage labour, sometimes in neighbouring districts, to make ends meet. Ms. Pottamkulam says migration does not always sever tradition. “For example, Chennai has a very strong urban folk culture and this is really a product of people who have migrated from rural areas. Some performances are as grand as those in villages, though adapted to an urban scale. However, continuity depends on context. Certain forms, once removed from their original social and ecological milieu, struggle to survive,” she adds.

While government advisories urge people to remain indoors during peak morning heat, Mr. Sundarrajan points out that informal outdoor workers receive no compensation for lost workdays. Drawing a parallel with lean-period support extended to fisherfolk, he says vulnerable groups like folk artistes should also be considered a climate-vulnerable group and given compensation.

Systematic health check-ups

K. Manivasan, Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowments Department, says the Tamil Nadu Folk Artistes Welfare Board, under the Department of Art and Culture, has over 50,000 registered members, many of whom have received financial assistance for education and marriage. However, he notes, two key areas require attention. The first is the need for systematic health check-ups and regular screening camps for artistes. “The Welfare Board will work with the Health Department for this,” he says. The second is ensuring that all artistes are covered under health insurance schemes. He adds efforts will also be made to enrol more artistes in the Board.

(This story is part of the Asian College of Journalism’s Climate Change Media Hub Mentorship Programme.)

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Science for all what is the connection between extreme heat and increased sugar consumption

admin — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 08:47:00 +0000

Image used for representation
| Photo Credit: V Raju

(This article forms a part of the Science for All newsletter that takes the jargon out of science and puts the fun in! Subscribe now!)

Ice creams and carbonated drinks aren’t just innocent treats anymore. There is now quantifiable scientific research warning about people using them to cool down on hot days, thus endangering their health.

In a new study published in Nature Climate Change, scientists from China, the UK, and the US reported that sugar consumption in the US rose significantly between 2004 and 2019 as temperatures increased and that this change was more pronounced in people with lower income or education levels.

This consumption was in the form of sweetened beverages and frozen desserts.

The researchers used individual, transaction-level data to study sugar intake and temperature. They found it to be strongest in the 12-30º C temperature range, during which sugar consumption increased 0.7 g per ºC per capita-day. It plateaued or declined beyond 30º C but the researchers pointed out that only 0.8% of the observations went that high. The humidity stayed the same throughout the range.

Sweetened beverages were the main source of sugar, which the researchers found people also consumed more as temperatures rose.

The study also found that people consumed more sugar in households with lower income or educational levels, rendering them more vulnerable to climate change by heightening the risk of adverse health conditions.

“It’s more about seeking cold and hydrating options, which often happen to be sugary. If people prefer water or ice, then rising temperatures wouldn’t necessarily increase sugar intake,” the study’s lead author and Cardiff University environmental science and sustainability lecturer Pan He told The Hindu.

Many Indian cities already regularly experience temperatures higher than 30º C. According to Dr. He, we can’t really say the findings of the new study will play out vis-à-vis India.

“Low-income groups are disadvantaged and tend to consume less healthy diets in both countries,” National University of Singapore assistant professor Sudatta Ray and research assistant Isabella Gupta said.

“However, in India, insufficient calorie consumption is a greater cause for concern among low-income households than the US, where the composition of the calories — whether from processed food or fresh fruits and vegetables — is a bigger problem.”

According to the Global Food Policy Report 2024, 16.6% of Indians were malnourished because of poor dietary habits, at least 38% ate unhealthy foods, and only 28% ate all five recommended food groups.

The 2024-2025 Economic Survey reported that the value of ultra-processed foods Indians consumed had ballooned by 42-times from 2006 to $37.9 billion in 2019.

India was already home to a quarter of the world’s adults living with diabetes in 2022.

According to market intelligence firm Ken Research, the carbonated soft drinks market in India is worth $19.5 billion and is driven by consumer preferences, “particularly among the youth, where carbonated drinks are a go-to refreshment option”. Despite being ultra-processed, this industry is driven by aggressive marketing campaigns, the launch of new flavours, and seemingly healthy “low calorie” options, among others, a Ken report noted.

“Given India’s high diabetes burden, rising sugar intake linked to heat could have serious public health implications. Urgent action—such as dietary education, fiscal measures, and other policy tools—may be required to address these risks in the context of climate change,” Dr. He said.

To tackle the problem of increased sugar consumption early on, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) earlier this year instructed over 24,000 affiliated schools to establish “sugar boards” so students could learn about the risks of excessive sugar intake. CBSE said that there has been a significant increase in type 2 diabetes in children over the past decade, which prompted this move.

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2024 On Track To Be Hottest Year Ever Recorded: UN Agency

admin — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 18:05:17 +0000

Baku:

The year 2024 is on course to become the hottest year ever recorded, with global temperatures reaching unprecedented levels, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) warned.

According to a report released on the opening day of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) here, the January-September global mean surface temperature was 1.54 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

This alarming surge, driven by an intense El Nino event and rising greenhouse gas concentrations, marks a critical threshold for climate change impacts worldwide.

The report titled “State of the Climate 2024” highlights the accelerating risks posed by global warming, particularly for vulnerable communities. “Climate catastrophe is hammering health, widening inequalities, harming sustainable development, and rocking the foundations of peace,” said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Guterres emphasised the urgent need for climate action to protect those most affected by these changes.

A major finding of the report is the unprecedented temperature increase. The average global temperature for the first nine months of 2024 exceeded the pre-industrial level by 1.54 degrees Celsius, temporarily surpassing the 1.5 degrees Celsius goal set in the Paris Agreement.

Though long-term warming remains around 1.3 degrees Celsius, experts caution that every fraction of a degree compounds the intensity of extreme weather events and exacerbates climate risks.

Another key observation is the surge in ocean heat content, which reached a historic high in 2023 and shows no signs of abating in 2024.

Oceans have absorbed over 90 per cent of the extra energy from global warming, a trend that will have long-term implications for marine life and coastal communities.

Rising ocean temperatures also fuel extreme weather patterns, further intensifying climate challenges.

Sea levels, driven by thermal expansion and glacier melt, continue to rise at a rate more than double that observed between 1993 and 2002.

Although the rate of increase slightly slowed in 2024, the WMO warns that sea level rise remains a grave concern for coastal regions worldwide. This trend underscores the need for coastal communities to strengthen resilience against rising waters.

The WMO report also draws attention to unprecedented glacier loss, with a record 1.2 metres of water equivalent lost in 2023.

Glaciers in Switzerland, for example, lost approximately 10 per cent of their remaining volume over just two years. Such rapid glacier retreat impacts mountainous and polar regions, highlighting the urgency for climate adaptation measures in these vulnerable areas.

Extreme weather events have also intensified globally, with WMO attributing deadly heatwaves, severe floods, tropical cyclones, and persistent droughts to climate change. These events have led to economic losses, food insecurity, and forced migration, hindering sustainable development and causing significant human suffering.

Additionally, greenhouse gas concentrations reached record levels in 2023, with CO2 rising to 420 parts per million, marking a 51 per cent increase from pre-industrial levels. This trend has persisted into 2024, pushing atmospheric heat retention higher and driving further warming. Such findings underline the pressing need to curb emissions on a global scale.

The polar ice regions continue to experience dramatic changes. Antarctic sea ice extent in 2024 was the second lowest since satellite records began, with the Arctic also seeing near-record lows. The loss of polar ice contributes to global warming feedback loops, with cascading effects on ecosystems and weather patterns.

WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo emphasised the need for climate adaptation, particularly through initiatives like Early Warnings for All (EW4All), which aim to protect communities from extreme weather events.

As part of this initiative, 108 countries now report having a Multi-Hazard Early Warning System, a significant step towards enhancing resilience in vulnerable areas.

The WMO’s findings underscore the urgency of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and implementing effective climate policies. In response, a team of international experts has been convened to track and communicate climate goals relative to the Paris Agreement and guide policymakers.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Kids, Elders In India Exposed To More Heatwave Days In Last Decade: Report

admin — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 01:38:17 +0000

About 181 billion labour hours were potentially lost due to exposure to heat in India.

New Delhi:

In India, over the last decade, infants and adults aged 65 or above were exposed to about eight heatwave days each year on average, increases of 47 per cent for infants and 58 per cent for older adults, compared to 1990-1999, according to a new report of The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change.

In 2023 alone, people in India were found to be exposed to a moderate or higher risk of heat stress for about 2,400 hours or 100 days, while performing light outdoor activities such as walking, the eighth annual report, reflecting the work of 122 experts from 57 academic institutions and UN agencies globally, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), found.

Published ahead of the 29th UN Conference of the Parties, or ‘COP29’, the report revealed a country-wise assessment of how climate change is affecting people’s health.

It showed that 10 of the 15 indicators that help track health threats to people around the world due to global warming, including rising nighttime temperatures and extreme precipitation, reached concerning new records.

Further, estimating economic impacts of heat in India, the report found that the agricultural sector was the worst hit from potential income loss due to a reduced capacity of labour in 2023 — to the tune of over USD 71.9 billion in potential losses.

Overall, in 2023, about 181 billion labour hours were potentially lost due to exposure to heat in India — an increase of 50 per cent from those lost during 1990-1999.

The report provides the most up-to-date assessment of the links between health and climate change, the authors said.

With health threats due to climate change reaching concerning levels, the authors are calling out governments and companies who continue “fuelling the fire” by investing in fossil fuels, all-time high greenhouse gas emissions, and years of delay in adapting, thereby endangering survival of people around the world.

Burning fossil fuels lead to high levels of air pollution, which has been studied to increase risk of varied conditions, including respiratory, cardiovascular, metabolic and neurological ones.

Transitioning to renewable energy would lower air pollution, thereby mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and benefitting human health, the authors said.

Further, as the planet continues to warm, climatic conditions have become increasingly conducive for the spread of vector-borne diseases such as dengue and malaria, they said.

During 2014-2023, the length of India’s coastline presenting conditions suitable for the transmission of Vibrio pathogens, which spread diseases such as cholera, at any time in a year was 23 per cent more than that in 1990-1999, the report said.

Also, in the last decade, the frontline population — that living within 100 kilometres from coastal waters with conditions suitable for Vibrio transmission — surpassed 210 million, the authors found.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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As sweltering summers ravage crops, Japan bets on heat-resistant rice

admin — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 08:44:01 +0000

A researcher breeds the new heat-resistant rice called “Emihokoro” or “Beaming Smile” at the government-run Saitama Agricultural Technology Centre in Kumagaya, Saitama prefecture, Japan, August 7, 2024.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Grappling with a rice shortage after extreme weather ravaged last year’s crop, Japan is hoping new heat-resistant varieties of its staple food can help stave off future supply shocks.

Last summer’s high temperatures and dry conditions led to lower rice yields in key growing regions and damaged the quality of grains, contributing to the lowest inventories seen in 25 years, according to official data.

Along with higher demand – partly attributed to record inbound tourism this year – supermarkets across the country have struggled to keep rice shelves stocked in recent months and some have imposed quotas on how much customers can buy.

The local government in Saitama, a prefecture north of Tokyo that is one of the hottest regions in the country, hopes science can avert future shortages and is pushing ahead with one of several nationwide projects to develop more resilient rice.

“It’s going to keep getting hotter, which makes me feel that without varieties that resist high temperatures, this is going to become a very tough job,” said Yoshitaka Funakawa, a 73-year-old farmer who is participating in the trial run for Saitama’s heat-resistant rice called emihokoro or ‘beaming smile’.

Japan sweltered in its warmest July on record in 2024.

High heat disrupts the accumulation of starch inside rice grains, causing them to appear more opaque, mottled with white flecks and less desirable for human consumption, impacting the crop’s market value.

“The more this cloudy, white phenomenon there is on rice, the grade of rice decreases, which leads to declines in farmers’ income,” said Naoto Ooka, who oversees rice breeding at Saitama’s Agricultural Technology Research Centre.

At the centre, researchers take seeds from across Japan, cultivate and cross-pollinate them in a drive to create more resistant varieties like emihokoro, which has been planted in 31 fields as a trial this year.

Rice is a source of pride for Japan, renowned for premium grains that are the base for signature dishes like sushi, but it is also a widely consumed food.

Rice is also one of the few staples the nation has historically been able to be self-sustainable in producing. The world’s fourth-largest economy imports more than 60% of its food resources.

Last year’s poor yields are among the factors that have driven up prices sharply.

Private rice inventories in Japan amounted to 1.56 million tonnes in June 2024, the lowest end-of-season volume since 1999 when comparable data was first collected, according to the agriculture ministry.

Inflation data for July released last week showed rice, excluding the famous ‘koshihikari’ premium brand, saw the highest rate of price increase in over 20 years.

At a branch of the Akidai supermarket chain in western Tokyo, shelves normally stocked with bags of rice were largely empty.

The supermarket chain’s president Hiromichi Akiba said wholesalers have been unable to fulfil its orders, and sometimes they cannot deliver any rice.

While the current shortage may be relieved when a new crop becomes available as early as September, tight supply is expected to remain through next year with hot weather posing risks for upcoming harvests, research firm BMI said in a report this month.

Meanwhile, the government is increasingly concerned that climate change will threaten its most important crop longer term unless action is taken.

An agriculture ministry report released in July showed paddy rice yields in Japan are projected to decline about 20% by 2100 compared to the previous century.

The ministry said shifting to high temperature-tolerant varieties was the most important measure to address the impact of climate change on rice crops and possible future shortages.

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21 Killed In Morocco Amid Scorching Heatwave In Last 24 Hours

admin — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 14:53:26 +0000

Morocco has suffered a sixth consecutive year of drought and record heat this winter (file)

Rabat:

A heatwave in Morocco has killed at least 21 people in a 24-hour period in the central city of Beni Mellal, the health ministry announced on Thursday.

The meteorology department said soaring temperatures affected much of the North African country from Monday to Wednesday, reaching 48 degrees Centigrade (118 Fahrenheit) in some areas.

In Beni Mellal, “the majority of deaths involved people suffering from chronic illnesses and the elderly, with high temperatures contributing to the deterioration of their health conditions,” the regional health directorate said in a statement.

Morocco has suffered a sixth consecutive year of drought and record heat this winter, with the month of January the hottest in the country since 1940, according to the meteorology department which had recorded temperatures approaching 37C in some places.

The rising temperatures and prolonged drought, which have lowered reservoir levels, are a threat to the vital agricultural sector.

Water evaporation reached 1.5 million cubic metres per day, Water Minister Nizar Baraka said at the end of June.

Morocco’s record temperature — 50.4C — was set in August last year in Agadir, in the south of the country.

Scientists have linked climate change to more prolonged, stronger and more frequent extreme weather, including heatwaves

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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The Best Way To Cool Down Quickly And Safely In A Heatwave

admin — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 13:10:40 +0000

Sweating is the most powerful way your body can remove heat. (Representational)

Lancaster, UK:

As the heatwave begins to grip the UK and the heat health alert is in effect, people are looking for ways to keep cool and reduce the risk of heat stroke – the most severe form of hyperthermia, with a body temperature above 40°C.

Older adults, those with underlying health conditions and the very young are at greatest risk. Some of this arises because the young and elderly have less efficient body systems to dissipate heat away from the body.

Older people hold heat more than young people because their sweat glands don’t function as well and their hearts don’t circulate blood as efficiently, so less heat is lost from the skin.

Sweating is the most powerful way your body can remove heat. As sweat evaporates, it takes heat with it. In the heat, people can produce between a half to two litres of sweat per hour.

In temperatures where the air temp is above the body temperature, heat can be transferred from the air to the body, which produces an additional challenge in removing heat from the body.

Aside from sweating, the other major way we lose heat is vasodilation (a widening of the blood vessels) in peripheral tissues. In extreme heat, the skin can receive between six and eight litres of blood per minute to help carry heat away from central organs.

Much of how the body responds is aimed at moving heat away from the major organs and the central nervous system to keep their temperature at as close to 37°C as possible.

While sweating and vasodilation are effective, they are limited – especially when temperatures stay high for several days.

The best ways to reduce your temperature are ones that support the body’s existing mechanisms to remove heat.

Applying cold things to the body

Applying cold water or a cold damp sponge to the skin is effective in moving heat from the body. This is beneficial in people with limited mobility and older adults.

Those who are able, can take a cool shower or bath. Evidence suggests that water that is about 26 or 27°C is optimal. It is cool enough to take heat away from the body, but not cold enough to initiate shivering, which will generate heat. (Immersing in water that is too cold can also cause cold shock.)

Studies looking at the French heatwave of 2003 showed that cooling (using a mister, cool, or cold bath or shower, sponge bath, mechanical fan or air conditioner) may be beneficial and prevented heat-related deaths.

Ice or cool packs (a damp towel or cloth works just fine) can be applied to the body. The groin, armpit, neck, forehead, wrists and torso are all areas that have plenty of blood vessels close to the surface. The cooled blood can then return to the major organs to bring the core temperature down.

Ice or ice packs should be wrapped in a towel or something similar to avoid burning the skin. Cycling them on and off the body every ten minutes reduces the risk of injury.

Partial filling of hot water bottle and placing in the freezer, to use at bedtime, or placing pillowcases in a plastic bag and into the freezer to chill them for bedtime may also help at night.

Fans

A recent study has shown that fans can improve the body’s sweat evaporation, but not significantly enough to help reduce the core body temperature. And this becomes even less so when ambient temperatures rise above 33°C, or for older people and those with an impaired ability to sweat.

Hot and cold drinks

Evidence from performance athletes exercising in temperatures of 28°C showed that chilled fluids at fridge temperature were better at bringing down core temperatures than ice or temperature neutral liquids at 37°C.

Drinking hot beverages activates the body’s mechanism to cool, but this will remove much-needed fluid from the body if you haven’t drunk enough, so chilled drinks are probably best in this situation.

Shade

All of these things are more effective in a cooler shaded area to increase the temperature gradient between the body and the ambient temperature. If you try these in the sun, they’re likely to be less effective as the ambient air is warmer in the sun meaning there is less capacity to take heat away or it happens more slowly.

Overall, though, the evidence suggests (ice) water immersion is the most effective way to cool off – which at home is most easily done by immersing feet or hands in a cool bowl of water. Water immersion is how many animals in hot weather and climates reduce their body temperature by standing in water, so it’s a good technique for humans, too.

But if you’re unable to do this, evaporation (mist and fan) is the next most effective.

(Author:Adam Taylor, Professor and Director of the Clinical Anatomy Learning Centre, Lancaster University)

(Disclosure Statement:Adam Taylor does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment)

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Heavy Rain In Delhi Brings Some Relief From Intense Heat Ahead Of Monsoon Arrival

admin — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 02:49:17 +0000

Monsoon is expected to arrive in Delhi by the end of this week

New Delhi:

Parts of Delhi today received heavy rain, bringing relief from the prevailing sultry conditions. Visuals shared by the news agency ANI showed heavy downpours in Munirka, Sarita Vihar, and other parts of the national capital with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting more showers during the day.

#WATCH | Parts of Delhi receive heavy rainfall, bringing respite from heat.

Visuals from Sarita Vihar area. pic.twitter.com/OHkSOURVpB

— ANI (@ANI) June 27, 2024

“Light to moderate intensity rain and gusty winds with speed of 30-40 Km/h would occur over and adjoining areas of few places of Delhi during the next two hours,” the IMD said in a post on X at 7:30 AM.

The weather agency also predicted rain over Ghaziabad, Noida, and Gurugram.

Ghaziabad, Indirapuram, Chhapraula, Noida, Greater Noida, Faridabad) Panipat, Gohana, Gannaur (Haryana) Baraut, Bagpat, Meerut, Khekra, Modinagar, Pilakhua, Hapur, Gulaoti (U.P.) during next 2 hours. pic.twitter.com/qJ95g6K1SA

— RWFC New Delhi (@RWFC_ND) June 27, 2024

The much-awaited rain came after Delhi and other parts of north India witnessed weeks of intense spell of heatwave.

Delhi had been reeling from the sweltering heat and has recorded nine heatwave days in June so far against none in 2023 and 2022.

Monsoon Expected To Arrive In Delhi By End Of This Week

The monsoon could arrive in Delhi by the end of this week, a private weather agency forecast on Wednesday.

According to Mahesh Palawat of Skymet Weather Services, “The monsoon is expected to reach Delhi on June 29 or 30.”

The IMD, however, has not shared any details of when the monsoon current is likely to enter the capital.

The monsoon current typically enters the city between June 27 and June 29. Last year, it arrived on June 26 while the first monsoon showers of 2022 were recorded on June 30.

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The Curse Of Delhi Heat, And The Charisma Of Our Short-Term Memory

admin — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 08:04:27 +0000

Credit: Reuters

Delhi’s meteorological and political climates seem to be in perfect sync this year. After the infernal heat and dust, the city is holding its breath. It’s like being transfixed by the cobra’s eyes. Everything is at a standstill. A pregnant pause. While the new parliament is in session, nothing significant has been achieved yet, either by the ruling party or the opposition.

No, Rahul Gandhi becoming the Leader of the Opposition does not count as a significant event. This was along the predicted lines. Similarly, a drop in the mercury is not worth any mention. After twelve months of dealing with “the twelve hottest months in the history of the planet”, a promise of rain feels nothing more than trolling.

Delhi Lives On

Delhi is not even complaining anymore. There is a new emergency heatstroke unit now at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital where patients are being given ice baths to save their lives. Delhi has recorded at least 14 heatwave days, the highest in at least 14 years. There’s something deeply satisfying about such numerically synchronised stats, no matter what horrors they imply. Two hundred and seventy-five people have been recorded as fatal victims of the heatwave since mid-May in Delhi. The actual numbers are certainly much higher. Delhi is cranking up the air-conditioning.

Also Read | 20 Dead In Delhi Heatwave, Centre Orders Hospitals To Prioritise Treatment

Even the chief minister’s continued incarceration is not making people’s – his voters and supporters’ – blood boil (the Aam Aadmi Party office at Rouse Avenue has more police around it than supporters). Delhi has a habit of slinking into complacency when ‘terrible’ becomes just a notch better and gets categorised as ‘bad’. Yes, it’s a hot day, but it’s not as bad as yesterday. Our collective memory of heat and dust is rather short. Or, it is too long. Going back centuries and millennia.

“A Desert Like That Of Karbala”

“The city has become a desert, and now that the wells are gone and water is something rare and precious, it will be a desert like that of Karbala.” Battling a severe water crisis in summer, Delhi is thus described by one of the best-known Urdu poets of all time. Only, the year is 1859 and the poet is Mirza Ghalib. Such is the curse and charisma of Delhi, the more it changes, the more it stays the same.

Also Read | Heatwave: Death Toll Climbs To 143 Across India

Delhi’s water crisis has worsened over the years. And so has its air. Unfortunately, nobody pays attention to these issues until there is a perfect time for it. In other words, whenever a convenient scapegoat is found. Air pollution, therefore, will only be talked about in the winter, just in time for Diwali and the harvest of rice. The moment the Haryana and Punjab farmers start to clear out their farms, Delhi complains of being choked. Facts and Air Quality Index (AQI) monitors be damned that throw up horrifying numbers all year long. The AQI reading for today, a pleasant day, is 300. Very pleasant indeed! Water is scarce today but in no time the city will be inundated, thanks to a swelling Yamuna and clogged or absent drains.

Dysfunctional But Functioning

None of this is new. Delhi goes on. It has taken it upon itself to show Mumbai its place. What do you mean by the spirit of Mumbai? Even Delhi is willing to stay charred or flooded for days and still be ‘functional’. At least as functional as wealthy club-goers insisting on getting behind the wheel after a gallon of alcohol in their bodies.

What Delhi does not do is value accountability. And here is the catch. Once you start seeking accountability, you have to be accountable, too. Power outages, for example, can not be only owing to the faulty gear of the power companies or soaring demand etc. Surely, electricity theft and wastage at individual and institutional levels have a role to play in it. Similarly, air pollution may have something to do with the countless cars on the roads. It’s a big stereotype in the West that Delhi folk – the privileged lot that can afford foreign travel – are extremely poor walkers. Yes, despite boasting of one of the best public transport infrastructures in the country, Delhi relies on its private motor vehicle ownership.

The Many Delhis

Delhi is second to none when it comes to flouting norms and laws in its quest to build and build some more. The city is perpetually under construction. According to a recent survey done by Ahmedabad’s Indian Institute of Public Health, more than 60% of construction workers suffer from heat stress during summer. Despite the Labour Ministry’s 2023 directives to construction companies for a change in working hours and humane work conditions, nothing has changed on the ground, thanks to the absence of strict enforcement. As long as the privileged in Delhi get their draft of cool air from their car ACs, they don’t care who drops dead next to their boiling vehicle.

Delhi builds, Delhi sizzles, Delhi dies. Often, it’s not the same Delhi.

(Nishtha Gautam is a Delhi-based author and academic.)

Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author

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Rise In Nighttime Warming Impacting Sleep Quality, Health In India: Report

admin — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 02:55:29 +0000

Nighttime temperatures have increased even more rapidly than daytime temperatures.

New Delhi:

With Mumbai seeing the highest changes in the nighttime temperatures, India continues to suffer a severe heatwave, a new analysis on Friday showed climate change added nearly 50 to 80 nights each year where the temperature exceeded 25 degrees Celsius, with serious impacts on sleep and health.

Climate change is leading to a rise in nighttime warming, which is impacting sleep quality and human health in India and across the globe, said the analysis by Climate Central and Climate Trends.

Nighttime temperatures have increased even more rapidly than daytime temperatures as the world heats up due to climate change, primarily caused by burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas.

As one of the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of the climate crisis, India has experienced a significant rise in minimum nighttime temperatures over the last decade due to climate change.

The national capital on June 18 experienced its warmest night in at least 12 years, with the mercury touching 35.2 degrees Celsius, says the India Meteorological Department. This is the city’s highest minimum temperature since 1969.

The analysis shows that nearly 50 to 80 days each year were added above this threshold by climate change in cities across Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and Andhra Pradesh between 2018 and 2023.

Among the metro cities, Mumbai has seen the highest changes in the nighttime temperatures, with the city experiencing an additional 65 days of warmer nights due to global warming.

West Bengal and Assam are the regions that have been most impacted, with cities like Jalpaiguri, Guwahati, Silchar, Dibrugarh and Siliguri experiencing between 80 and 86 additional days each year above the 25 degrees threshold due to climate change, on average.

Several cities saw between 15 and 50 additional days where the minimum temperatures exceeded 25 degrees due to the influence of climate change, including Jaipur, with an additional 19 hot nights attributable to climate change.

Meanwhile, in both observations and in the counterfactual climate, the nighttime summer temperatures across India often exceed 20 degrees over the entire summer period.

The cities that had the largest number of days where the minimum temperature exceeded 20 degrees due to climate change are Gangtok, Darjeeling, Shimla, and Mysore, with an average of 54, 31, 30, and 26 days added by climate change, respectively.

Higher nighttime temperatures can cause physiological discomfort and impact human health by preventing body temperature from cooling off during the night, increasing mortality risks.

There is also a growing body of evidence that as nighttime temperatures rise, it is adversely affecting the quality and length of sleep.

Poor sleep adversely affects physical and mental health, cognitive functioning and even life expectancy. Hot nights can have disproportionate impacts on vulnerable groups, including the elderly and people, who do not have access to proper cooling mechanisms.

These findings come during a week that saw new records for nighttime heat in several Indian cities.

On June 19, Delhi shattered the all-time high minimum temperature record, with the mercury reaching 35.2 degrees overnight. Delhi recorded almost four numbers of additional nights over 25 degrees between 2018 and 2023, according to the Climate Central analysis.

On June 18, Alwar in Rajasthan had a minimum temperature of 37 degrees, the highest-ever nighttime temperature since records began in 1969.

Alwar experienced almost nine additional nights over 25 degrees that are attributable to climate change between 2018 and 2023.

In Uttar Pradesh, Lakhimpur Kheri, Shahjahanpur and Varanasi also witnessed their highest recorded minimum temperatures at 33 degrees, 33 and 33.6 degrees respectively this week.

Varanasi saw four additional nights over 25 degrees due to climate change from 2018 to 2023.

These increasingly frequent extreme nighttime temperatures are contributing to heat stress, exhaustion and heat-related deaths.

The current ongoing heatwave in India has been made hotter, frequent and more likely by climate change, according to scientific studies by World Weather Attribution and ClimaMeter.

Roxy Mathew Koll, Climate Scientist, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, “The urban heat island effect is most visible in the nighttime temperatures. Cities turn into urban heat islands when buildings, roads, and other infrastructure absorb and re-emit heat, causing cities to be several degrees hotter than surrounding rural areas.”

“During the day, the sun’s rays reach as shortwave radiation and heat the earth’s surface. At night, the heat escapes as longwave radiation. While shortwave radiation can easily penetrate through and reach the surface, the longwave gets trapped easily by concrete and clouds.”

Aarti Khosla, Director, of Climate Trends, said, “Like day temperatures, night temperatures have also shown constant and steady rise over the last few years. Warm nights have been punishing this summer with several cities shattering five decades of records. Cities will bear the highest brunt which will get worse due to the urban heat island effect.”

“Several studies have already established that by the turn of the century, without very large reductions in fossil fuel burning, nighttime temperatures will not fall below 25 degrees in some places during hot weather impacting one’s ability to recover for the next day. If we do not act now, nights will continue to be hotter, longer and sleepless, especially for the vulnerable.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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