Climate Trends

Heat wave engulfing parts of Central and Northwest India during the summer season is nothing new for India. However, mercury soaring beyond 40 degrees Celsius during the middle of March seems to be the new normal.

La Niña is set to make a comeback for the second consecutive year, keeping meteorologists busy across the world. La Niña is defined as an oceanic-atmospheric phenomenon, El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), wherein water temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific Ocean become cooler than normal because of the upwelling of cold water from the bottom of the sea.

As La Nina makes an appearance for the second time in a row and meteorologists expect an intense winter, North India can expect to see prolonged spells of pollution over the coming months.

Extreme weather events are not new to the country; however, the increasing frequency of these events are. All thanks to climate change, which has been altering weather patterns across India.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) met virtually to consider the contribution of Working Group 1 (WG1) to the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), for two weeks from 26th July to 6th August, 2021.