Heat Index : IMD
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) is planning to introduce a ‘heat index’ warning system in Delhi and other parts of the country.
- The IMD has conducted a study on the impact of meteorological factors on heatwaves and the “heat wave hazard zonation” of the country.
- According to “Hot Weather Analysis over India,” IMD revealed that the mechanism by which heat impacts humans is complex; it is a result of the interactions between temperature, radiation, wind, and humidity.
- There is strong experimental evidence that physiologic stress from high temperatures is greater if humidity is higher.
- Heat Index will calculate the temperature along with the humidity levels to provide a more accurate measure of what the temperature actually feels like.
- In the US, the heat index is color-coded to provide warnings based on the impact of the heat index.
- The IMD is planning to introduce a similar color-coded warning system in India.
- A heatwave is a period of abnormally high temperatures, a common phenomenon in India during the months of May-June and in some rare cases even extends till July.
- The Heatwave is considered when the maximum temperature of a station reaches at least 40°C for Plains and at least 30°C for Hilly regions.
