The Climate Crisis, exacerbated by human activities like industrialisation, deforestation, and fossil fuel burning necessitates urgent attention and action to combat extreme heat waves, opines Dr Baljeet, exclusively for Different Truths.

In recent times one of the gravest and biggest challenges that humanity faces is the Climate Crisis. The chief factors that have precipitated this unmanageable catastrophe are mostly human-induced activities such as haphazard construction, rapid industrialisation, deforestation, burning of fossil fuels, oil and gas, emission of greenhouse gases, exploitation of natural resources and the ravaging extreme heat waves. As a result, Earth’s atmosphere is getting warmer and warmer with each passing day. Consequently, weather patterns are changing rapidly, making life more difficult to sustain.

Of all the above-cited causes of climate change, the phenomenon of recurring extreme heat waves has accelerated this process in the present time. It is playing havoc with the lives of people on this planet. Its frequency and intensity have increased manifold. The situation is thus becoming serious to be tackled. Meteorologists and geologists are deeply involved in studying why the occurrence of heat waves has become so frequent and devastating.  They are also putting their heads together to devise measures to be taken to avoid their destructive effects.  The important questions are: What are the heat waves? How are they formed? How do they impact human and other lives on this planet? What measures and precautions are necessary to be taken to quell their harmful effects? This needs to be understood from a proper perspective.

To begin with, a heat wave is said to have occurred over a particular region when the temperature abnormally rises above 40 degrees Celsius for more than three or four days. Heat waves can occur with high humidity or without it. The chief cause of their occurrence is the burning of fossil fuels in large quantities. They can cover a large area and pose a potential danger to the inhabitants. Secondly, heat waves are formed when air pressure (trapped air) in the high atmosphere pushes the warm air down towards the earth’s surface. Then the sinking warm air forms a bulb that acts like a seal and does not allow the trapped heat to escape from it.  Consequently, the region becomes much warmer. For instance, this year (2023), record-breaking temperatures were witnessed in many parts of America, Europe, and Asia. It exceeded 50 degrees Celsius in Death Valley in America and Northwest China.   In Europe, many areas of Spain like Cataluña were roasted under high temperatures. Greece had braced for the worst heat waves in July in its fifty-year history. Thirdly, heat waves have not only severely impacted human lives but also the entire ecosystem. There are droughts and crop failures due to their intensity and severity. This has led to famines and food crises in many parts of the world. Wildfires caused by the soaring temperatures have destroyed the forests and killed innumerable animals, birds, and other living organisms therein. Many of their species have perished as a matter of fact. These devastating fires have made hundreds of thousands of people homeless thereby creating another humanitarian crisis. The poisonous gases emitted through their smoke have polluted the air that we breathe in. Hence humanity is afflicted with severe breathing ailments like asthma and the like. To add more, a severe heat wave can cause heat stroke, heat exhaustion and dehydration. It can, therefore, be life-threatening.

Finally, to mitigate the intensity and severity of heat waves the governments of the day should resort to green energy instead of burning fossil fuels. But, regrettably, contrary to the advice and suggestions of the climatologists the governments across the world are approving fossil fuel projects under the influence of the big corporates.  The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change holds its meeting every year but nothing tangible comes out. This is surely going to make life hell on this planet. However, under compelling circumstances, to ward off the deleterious effects of heat waves it is advisable to remain under a roof or tree shade. Drink plenty of water to keep the body hydrated. Seek medical aid in case of emergency like heat stroke and other heat-related ailments.

Simultaneously, flash floods are wreaking havoc in different regions of the world. Mostly these are caused by tropical cyclones. Oceans are getting warmer with each passing day due to global warming. A storm over an ocean absorbs more water vapours and heat due to its warming. It results in high-velocity winds, torrential rains, and devastating flooding when it reaches the plains. Recently cyclone Daniel formed over the Mediterranean Sea travelled to Greece, Spain, and Turkey and finally reached Libya where it flattened everything that came its way. More than 11000 people became its victims and innumerable are still missing. Such was its devastation that it wiped out almost the entire city of Derna. Houses, infrastructure, and other property were demolished or washed away within no time. More cyclones like Daniel are occurring in different parts of the world as we witness today. Their frequency and intensity are increasing like severe heat waves. Only the sincere efforts on the part of the governments of the day can retard the process of prevailing calamities. Will the governments wake up from their slumber?

Picture design by Anumita Roy

Dr Baljeet Singh Virk

Baljeet Singh Virk is a retired Associate Professor of History, from the Government Mohindra College, Patiala, Punjab

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