Kerala recorded worst Climate Shift Index levels from June to Aug: Study

Kerala, Puducherry, and Andaman Nicobar were the most affected by rising temperatures, not only in India but all over the world. Climate Central, an international organization working on issues related to climate change, released this information in a new analysis, stating that the Climate Change Index (CSI) remained four or more for 60 or more days between June and August in these areas.

CSI tracked climate change effects

During this period, climate change recorded a CSI level of more than three in two other states, Meghalaya and Goa as well. It is noteworthy that Climate Central's Climate Shift Index (CSI) calculated the impact of climate change on temperatures in various locations worldwide. This calculation aids in comprehending the extent to which local daily temperatures have been affected by climate change.

Local conditions in Kerala, Andaman Nicobar, Puducherry, Meghalaya, and Goa in India show that if the CSI level is three or more, it means that climate change has affected local conditions at least three times more.

"Three Indian states experienced more than 60 days at CSI level 3 or higher: Kerala, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar. Eleven Indian states experienced average temperatures 1°C or more above the long-term (1991-2020) average and five Indian states had a summer average CSI above 3: Kerala, Andaman and Nicobar, Puducherry, Meghalaya, Goa," it said in a statement.

Bihar, Jharkhand saw high temperatures

On the other hand, if we compare the average temperature from 1991 to 2020, the situation is worse in Bihar and Jharkhand. We have learned that during these three months, the temperature in Bihar was 1.6 degrees Celsius above normal.

At the same time, the temperature in Jharkhand has also surpassed 1.5 degree Celsius. Similarly, 11 states of the country, including Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Sikkim, Tripura, Kerala, and Telangana recorded one degree Celsius or more above the normal temperature during these three months.

Climate Central includes India in its analysis, demonstrating the threat of increasing temperatures in the report. The report highlights that humans bear the consequences of climate changes resulting from human activities. Due to this, almost every person in the world experienced the increasing heat between June and August.

Everyone felt the heat of rising temperature

At the same time, the heat has also increased the number of people dying. Currently, June and July hold the title of the hottest months ever. Also, the data confirms that August 2023 was the warmest August ever, with a 1.5 ° C increase in temperature compared to pre-industrial times.

Samantha Burgess, deputy director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), says, "We have broken many temperature records in 2023." In addition to having the hottest July and June, August 2023 was also declared the hottest August ever. This record-breaking trend has resulted in a warming of temperatures not observed since the 1940s. Currently, 2023 stands as the second warmest year, being only 0.01°C cooler than 2016, with four months remaining in the year.

Climate Central has found through its analysis of temperatures in 180 countries and 22 regions of the world, including India, that 98 percent of the world's population, meaning 795 million people, will experience at least twice the normal temperatures between June and August 2023 due to rising human emissions. High temperatures forced them to face this situation.

Additionally, according to the index, during these three months, approximately 620 crore people faced such extreme heat on one day or another when the temperature was five times higher than the normal range.

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