CLIMATE CHANGE AND NATURAL DISASTERS IN INDIA
Climate change significantly exacerbates the frequency, intensity, and unpredictability of natural disasters in India. The rise in global temperatures, shifting weather patterns, and increasing sea levels contribute to the following:
1.Increased Frequency of Extreme Weather Events: Climate change leads to more frequent and severe extreme weather events such as heatwaves, heavy rainfall, and cyclones. For example, India has seen a marked increase in the number of heatwaves over the past few decades, with some regions experiencing temperatures exceeding 48°C (118°F). The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the frequency of heatwave days increased by over 80% between 1961-70 and 2001-10. Similarly, the number of cyclones in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea has increased, with a 30% rise in the frequency of severe cyclones over the last 30 years.
2.Intensification of Cyclones: Warmer ocean temperatures provide more energy for tropical cyclones, making them more powerful and destructive. Cyclones like Amphan (2020) and Tauktae (2021) are examples of how climate change is leading to more intense storms. Cyclone Amphan, for instance, recorded wind speeds of up to 185 km/h (115 mph), causing widespread destruction and becoming the costliest cyclone in the North Indian Ocean, with damages exceeding $13 billion.
3.Rising Sea Levels and Coastal Erosion: The melting of polar ice caps and glaciers, along with the thermal expansion of seawater, leads to rising sea levels. Globally, sea levels have risen by about 21-24 cm since 1880, with the rate of increase accelerating in recent decades. This exacerbates coastal erosion, inundates low-lying areas, and increases the risk of storm surges during cyclones. In India, the Ministry of Earth Sciences reported an average sea-level rise of 3.3 mm per year along the Indian coast from 1993 to 2017. Coastal communities in states like West Bengal, Odisha, and Gujarat are particularly vulnerable to these impacts.
4.Altered Rainfall Patterns and Flooding: Climate change disrupts traditional monsoon patterns, leading to unpredictable and extreme rainfall events. This results in both flash floods and prolonged flooding, particularly in regions like Assam, Bihar, and Kerala. The IMD data indicates that the frequency of extreme rainfall events (more than 150 mm/day) in India has increased by threefold between 1950 and 2015. The increase in rainfall intensity overwhelms drainage systems, leading to urban flooding in cities like Mumbai, which experienced over 944 mm of rainfall in just 24 hours during the 2005 floods.
5.Glacial Melt and Himalayan Hazards: Rising temperatures are causing glaciers in the Himalayas to melt at an accelerated rate, contributing to glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) and landslides. The Himalayan glaciers are retreating at an average rate of 10-15 meters per year. The Chamoli disaster in Uttarakhand in 2021, which involved a devastating flood triggered by a glacier collapse, highlights the growing risks in the Himalayan region. This disaster caused the deaths of over 200 people and significant damage to infrastructure.