State impacted as spring disappears in India
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 19 2024: As winter fades into a mere transition towards summer in various regions of the country; Manipur, nestled in the north-eastern part of the country, emerges as a focal point of significant climate change.

A recent study conducted by Climate Central, a reputable organisation of climate scientists and researchers based in the United States, unveiled startling revelations regarding the swift alteration in temperatures across the Iridian subcontinent since 1970.The study, titled "Winter temperature trends across India: Faster warming in February makes spring feel shorter," delves into the meteorological data spanning over five decades, shedding light on the profound impacts of global warming on the seasonal shifts experienced by different states and territories.

Manipur, in particular, stood out with the largest net warming during winter, marking a substantial increase of 2.3�C since 1970, while the national capital territory of Delhi recorded a relatively modest rise of 0.2"C in the same period.

One of the most striking observations from the analysis is the disappearance of the spring season, as February temperatures surge, blurring the boundaries between winter and summer.

Dr Andrew Pershing, the vice-president for Science at Climate Central, attributes this phenomenon to human-induced climate change, fuelled primarily by the combustion of fossil fuels like coal and oil.

The study elucidates regional disparities in temperature trends during the winter season.

Southern states exhibit robust warming trends in December and January, with Sikkim and Manipur registering the most significant temperature increases during these months.

Conversely, the northern regions experience milder warming or even cooling during December and January, with Delhi showcasing the lowest temperature increments.

However, the transition from January to February witnessed a dramatic shift, as all regions experienced pronounced warming, especially in areas previously marked by cooling or low warming rates.

Notably, Jammu and Kashmir recorded the highest warming rate in February, further underscoring the abrupt transition from winter to spring-like conditions in northern India.

This stark disparity between January and February trends underscores the potential for rapid shifts in temperature, hinting at a departure from traditional seasonal patterns.

The findings of the study underscore the urgent need for concerted global efforts to mitigate climate change and its far-reaching consequences.

As Manipur emerges as a harbinger of warming winters, it serves as a poignant reminder of the imperative to address the existential threat posed by climate change before irreversible damage is inflicted upon our planet.

The study also revealed that global mean temperatures have risen by more than 1.3 degrees Celsius since 1850, and set a new record in 2023.The data has been analysed from 1970 till now.

Twelve out of the 34 states and UTs are witnessing the fastest warming winter season now.

The primary cause of this warming is rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from burning coal, oil, and natural gas.

The purpose of this analysis is to place India in the context of these global trends, with a focus on winter (December-February).

Climate Central calculated the monthly average temperature for 33 states and Union territories.

It focused on the period 1970-present as this is the period when most global warming has occurred and for which consistent data exists.

For each state or territory, Climate Central found the rate of warming for each month and each three-month meteorological season.

Warming rates are expressed as change in the state-average temperature since 1970.Additionally, many Indians report that spring has disappeared, temperatures transition quickly from winter to summer-like conditions.

It considers whether warming trends in the winter can explain this observation and where it is most likely to apply.

Every region considered had net warming during winter.

Manipur had the largest change since 1970 (2.3 degrees Celsius), while Delhi had the smallest (0.2 degree).

Winter is the fastest warming season for 12 out of the 34 states and territories considered.

This is second only to autumn, which was the fastest w arming season in 13 regions.

There are notable differences in the pattern of temperature changes during the winter season.

(with inputs from agencies) .

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