Shifting Winds Fuel Escalating Heatwaves in North-Central India

A study by the Centre for Climate Studies at IIT Bombay reveals that a northward shift in summer winds since 1998 has exacerbated heatwaves in North-Central India, accounting for 25% of observed variations. This shift, triggered by rising Pacific Ocean temperatures, contributes to increased pre-monsoon heat.

A study conducted by the Centre for Climate Studies at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay highlights a critical factor exacerbating North-Central India's severe heatwaves: a northward shift in summer winds that started after 1998.

This atmospheric change is responsible for a quarter of the variations observed in heatwave frequency, duration, and intensity in the region. The study links this wind pattern shift to a significant rise in Pacific Ocean temperatures around 1998, further intensified by global warming.

The research underscores the importance of understanding wind pattern changes, both natural and climate change-induced, in contributing to harsher heatwaves across North-Central India and neighboring regions.

(With inputs from agencies.)