Why are temperatures rising in A.P. and Telangana?, Pg10

• On May 12, 17 districts in Andhra Pradesh recorded temperatures above 41°C; Telangana crossed 40°C in all 33 districts on April 21.
• Both states are consistently ranked among the most heatwave-prone regions in India.
• Factors include geography (Tropic of Cancer, Deccan Plateau), lack of forest cover, insufficient rainfall, poor irrigation, and absence of early warning systems.

Detailed Insights:

1. Geographical Factors:

• Both states lie close to the Tropic of Cancer, placing them in the Torrid Zone with high solar intensity.
• Sun is nearly overhead during summer, leading to increased heating.
• Telangana is landlocked with no major water bodies, hence experiences a continental climate (high day-time temperature variation).
• Much of Telangana and interior Andhra Pradesh lies on rocky terrain, with black soil that absorbs more heat.

2. Climatic and Environmental Conditions:

• Lack of rainfall between March and May prevents natural cooling of the soil and air.
• Monsoon arrives post-June, causing prolonged heat buildup in pre-monsoon months.
• Low vegetation and irrigation means less evaporative cooling (where water evaporation cools the air).
• Loss of forest cover also reduces evapotranspiration, aggravating heatwaves.

3. Land Use & Irrigation:

• Compared to dense forests or irrigated agricultural lands, dry and sparsely vegetated terrain leads to heat absorption and retention.
• Telangana’s terrain has minimal summer farming; hence, irrigation is negligible—limiting the cooling effect.

4. Forecasting and Policy Issues:

• There’s a lack of early warning systems based on hourly data, hampering preparedness.
• India Meteorological Department (IMD) has started efforts, but effective, localized risk mapping is still a work in progress.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Evaporative Cooling: Heat is absorbed from surroundings during water evaporation, reducing air temperature.
• Continental Climate: Inland areas without oceanic influence show higher temperature fluctuations.
• Evapotranspiration: Combined process of water evaporation and plant transpiration that cools surroundings.

Significance:

• Identifying and mapping microclimatic zones is crucial to effective heatwave management.
• Integrating land use, vegetation cover, and irrigation practices into urban and rural planning is essential.
• Early warning systems and adaptive infrastructure (green roofs, shaded roads) are needed.
• This is part of broader climate resilience planning, especially as heatwaves intensify with global warming.

Mains Mock Question:

What are the geographical and anthropogenic factors contributing to the rise in summer temperatures in states like Andhra Pradesh and Telangana? Suggest measures to mitigate the impact of heatwaves in such vulnerable regions.