Global warming is a pressing issue that affects various regions differently. The Indian subcontinent, in particular, exhibits distinct warming trends compared to the global average. In 2020, the Ministry of Earth Sciences published an assessment revealing that the annual mean temperatures over India had risen by 0.7 degrees Celsius since 1900, significantly lower than the 1.59-degree Celsius rise observed globally. This essay explores the factors contributing to the lower warming over India and highlights the significance of its tropical location.
Warming Disparity: A Result of Atmospheric Phenomena
- Altitude and Circulation Patterns:
- Higher altitudes near the polar regions experience more prominent temperature increases than equatorial regions.
- Heat transfers from the tropics to the poles through prevailing air circulation systems contribute to differential warming.
- India’s proximity to the equator places it in the tropical region, where temperature rises are relatively lower.
- Global Variation in Warming:
- The Earth has warmed by 1.1 degrees Celsius compared to preindustrial times, but different regions exhibit varying levels of warming.
- Polar regions, particularly the Arctic, have experienced significantly greater warming.
- The Arctic’s current annual mean temperatures are approximately 2 degrees Celsius higher than pre-industrial levels.
- Factors contributing to Arctic warming include heat transfer through air circulation, albedo effect, melting ice cover, and changes in clouds, water vapor, and atmospheric temperatures.
Higher Land Warming versus Ocean Warming
- Land and Ocean Heat Capacities:
- The 0.7-degree Celsius temperature rise over India should be compared to the warming observed over land areas, not the entire planet.
- Land areas tend to heat up faster and to a greater extent than oceans due to differences in heat capacities.
- Oceans have higher capacity to cool through evaporation, while land experiences more enhanced long-term heating due to complex land-ocean-atmospheric interactions.
Impact of Aerosols on Warming Patterns
- Aerosols and Sunlight Scattering:
- Aerosols are particles suspended in the atmosphere that scatter sunlight, reducing heat absorption by land.
- Aerosols also influence cloud formation, which affects the reflection or absorption of sunlight.
- The Indian region has a high concentration of aerosols, resulting from natural and anthropogenic sources such as vehicle emissions, industries, and construction.
- The presence of aerosols in the atmosphere can unintentionally reduce warming.
Tropical Location: A Key Factor
- Lower Warming in Tropical Regions:
- India’s relatively lower warming can be attributed to its tropical location.
- The majority of the global landmass is concentrated in northern latitudes, whereas the tropics and equatorial regions consist mostly of oceans.
- Land areas, being more susceptible to rapid and extensive heating, contribute to the pronounced warming observed over global land areas.
- As a tropical country, India’s deviation from the global temperature rise average is not surprising.
Important Points:
- 🌍 The global warming trends over the Indian region differ significantly from the global average.
- 🌡️ India has experienced a rise in annual mean temperatures by 0.7 degrees Celsius since 1900, lower than the 1.59-degree Celsius rise observed globally.
- 🏔️ The increase in temperatures is more prominent in higher altitudes near the polar regions compared to equatorial regions.
- 🌬️ Atmospheric phenomena, including heat transfers through air circulation, contribute to the differential warming patterns.
- 🌡️ The Arctic region has seen significantly greater warming, with current temperatures approximately 2 degrees Celsius higher than pre-industrial times.
- 🌡️ Land areas have become warmer by 1.59 degrees Celsius, whereas oceans tend to heat up less due to differences in heat capacities.
- 🌫️ Aerosols, such as particles suspended in the atmosphere, scatter sunlight and affect cloud formation, thus influencing the amount of heat absorbed or reflected.
- 🚗🏭 The Indian region has a high concentration of aerosols, both from natural and man-made sources such as vehicle emissions, industries, and construction.
- 🌴 India’s location in the tropical region, close to the equator, contributes to its relatively lower warming compared to countries in higher latitudes.
- 🌎 Understanding regional variations in warming is crucial for implementing effective climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies.
Why In News
The global warming trends over the Indian region exhibit a distinct pattern, diverging from the general warming trends observed across the world.The Indian subcontinent experiences unique climate dynamics that result in notable variations in its warming trends compared to other regions globally.
MCQs about India’s Lower Warming
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What is the primary reason for the lower warming trends observed over India compared to the global average?
A. Higher altitude near the equator
B. Higher concentration of aerosols in the Indian region
C. Land areas have a higher capacity to cool themselves down
D. Enhanced heat transfer from the tropics to the poles
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Which region has experienced significantly greater warming compared to the global average?
A. Indian subcontinent
B. Polar regions, particularly the Arctic
C. Equatorial regions
D. Southern hemisphere
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What contributes to the differential warming patterns between higher altitudes near the polar regions and equatorial regions?
A. Heat transfers from the poles to the tropics
B. Enhanced heat absorption by land areas
C. Atmospheric circulation and air transfer
D. Higher concentration of greenhouse gases
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Why do land areas experience more enhanced long-term heating compared to oceans?
A. Oceans have a higher heat capacity
B. Land areas have a higher albedo effect
C. Land-ocean-atmospheric interactions
D. Oceans have a higher concentration of aerosols
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