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Mumbai Sees Highest Changes in Nighttime Temperatures Amid Severe Heatwave
A new analysis by Climate Central and Climate Trends reveals that climate change is significantly raising nighttime temperatures across India, leading to severe impacts on sleep quality and human health. The study highlights that global warming has added nearly 50 to 80 nights each year where temperatures exceed 25 degrees Celsius, a trend most pronounced in major cities like Mumbai.
Increased Nighttime Temperatures Across India
The analysis indicates that nighttime temperatures have been rising more rapidly than daytime temperatures due to climate change, primarily driven by fossil fuel combustion. This phenomenon has made India one of the most vulnerable countries to climate crisis impacts. Over the last decade, minimum nighttime temperatures have surged, particularly in the national capital, New Delhi, which recorded its warmest night in 12 years on June 18, with temperatures reaching 35.2 degrees Celsius.
Between 2018 and 2023, cities across Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and Andhra Pradesh experienced an additional 50 to 80 days annually with nighttime temperatures above 25 degrees Celsius. Mumbai saw the most significant changes, with 65 additional warmer nights attributed to global warming. In West Bengal and Assam, cities like Jalpaiguri, Guwahati, Silchar, Dibrugarh, and Siliguri faced an average increase of 80 to 86 warm nights per year.
Implications for Health and Well-being
Higher nighttime temperatures disrupt sleep by preventing the body from cooling down, increasing physiological discomfort and mortality risks. Poor sleep quality adversely affects physical and mental health, cognitive functioning, and life expectancy. Vulnerable groups, including the elderly and those without access to cooling mechanisms, are disproportionately affected by hot nights.
Cities such as Gangtok, Darjeeling, Shimla, and Mysore experienced an average of 54, 31, 30, and 26 additional days, respectively, where minimum temperatures exceeded 20 degrees Celsius due to climate change. These conditions exacerbate heat stress, exhaustion, and heat-related deaths, as seen during the ongoing heatwave in India.
Record-Breaking Nighttime Temperatures
The analysis reported new records for nighttime heat in several Indian cities during the week. On June 19, Delhi broke its all-time high minimum temperature record, with the mercury reaching 35.2 degrees Celsius overnight. Alwar in Rajasthan recorded a minimum temperature of 37 degrees Celsius on June 18, the highest since records began in 1969. Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri, Shahjahanpur, and Varanasi also saw their highest recorded minimum temperatures this week.
Urban Heat Island Effect
Roxy Mathew Koll, a climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, explained that the urban heat island effect exacerbates nighttime temperatures. Cities absorb and re-emit heat, making them significantly hotter than rural areas. This effect, coupled with climate change, has led to an alarming rise in nighttime temperatures.
Aarti Khosla, Director of Climate Trends, emphasized the continuous and steady rise in nighttime temperatures over the years. She warned that without substantial reductions in fossil fuel use, nighttime temperatures might not fall below 25 degrees Celsius in some places by the century’s end, severely impacting sleep quality and overall health.
Conclusion
The analysis underscores the urgent need for action to mitigate climate change and its impacts. As nighttime temperatures continue to rise, the health and well-being of millions of Indians are at risk. Addressing the root causes of global warming is crucial to prevent increasingly sleepless and health-compromised nights.
