GLOBAL WARMING---WHERE ARE YOU?
DENSE FOG, CHILLY WEATHER CONTINUES UNABATED AND THE COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE INTENSIFYING IN PARTS OF ASIA.
ON JANUARY 07th 2011, DELHI(4.3) WAS COLDER THAN SHIMLA(5.5).
THE SOUTHWARD JOURNEY OF THE MERCURY CONTINUES AND MANY PLACES IN THE MAINLAND OF MADHYAPRADESH RECORDED SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES. IN REWA 44-YR OLD RECORD WAS BROKEN AND IN RAICHUR (KARNATAKA) 120-YR OLD RECORD WAS BROKEN.
THE NIPPY WEATHER CONDITIONS LEAD TO FOG AND MIST AFFECTING NORMAL LIFE, BEING THROWN OUT OF GEAR. ROOM HEATERS AND FOR THE LESS PRIVILEGED BON-FIRES ARE A COMMON SIGHT.
THE GUANGXI WEATHER BUREAU IN CHINA HAS WARNED ABOUT INTENSE COLD WAVE IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH CHINA. MILLIONS OF LIVES ARE PARALYSIED DUE TO SLEET AND SNOW, THE NATIONAL HIGHWAYS AND AIRPORTS BEING CLOSED. ITS CASCADING EFFECT IS SHORTAGE OF FOOD SUPPLIES AND PRICE RISE AND SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES BEING CLOSED OWING TO SAFETY CONCERNS.
IF THERE IS NO RELIEF FROM SUCH FREEZING WEATHER, THE ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES, WATER AND ELECTRICITY MAY BEAR A COLD SNAP. THE RESULTING FINANCIAL LOSSES MAY BE IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. THE BONE PENETRATING COLD WAVE MAY LAST FOR ABOUT A WEEK MORE, ACCORDING TO IMD. AND WE WILL HAVE TO BEAR THE BRUNT OF WEATHER, BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE ANY COLD WAVE RISK MITIGATION PLANS AND THE VAGARIES OF WEATHER WILL CONTINUE TO SHOW ITS UNPRECEDENTED CALAMITY.
MEANWHILE, NAGPUR WEATHER OBSERVATORY, ESTABLISHED ON 01.01.1869 AT MAYO HOSPITAL AS A CLASS-IV-B OBSERVATORY AND SHIFTED TO PRESENT SITE ON 19.04.1948 AS A CLASS-I OBSERVATORY RECORDED TODAY ON 07th JANUARY 2011 A MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 5.7 DEG CEL, THE SECOND LOWEST TEMPERATURE IN THE HISTORY. INCIDENTLY TODAY IN 1937 THE LOWEST EVER MINIMUM TEMPERATURE WAS RECORDED AS 3.9 DEG CEL. AND TOADY LAST YEAR IN 2010 WAS THE COLDEST DAY OF THE RESPECTIVE SEASON. IN NAGPUR. ON FIVE OCCASSIONS IN THE PAST DECADE i.e. IN 2001,2004,2007,2008,2009 THERE WAS NOT A SINGLE DAY IN JANUARY WHICH COULD SEE A TEMPERATURE DROP EVEN UPTO 8 DEG CEL
IF WE FURTHER CONTINUE TO WITNESS THE ONSLAUGHT OF WINTER, WE MAY HAVE TO ISSUE A SEARCH WARRANT FOR GLOBAL WARMING TO EXTEND ITS GRATITUDE TO GIVE US MUCH NEEDED RESPITE AND WARMTH.
Milind Phadke
+919890317557
+919890317557
