NEW DELHI: Annual mean temperature in India has increased by about 1.2 degree Celsius since the beginning of the 20th century, resulting in extreme weather events, said a study by a environment think tank.
The study by the Centre for Science Environment (CSE) found that annual temperature in India has rapidly increased since 1995 and at this rate of increase, it will breach the 1.5 degree C mark within the next two decades. 1.5 degree C is the aspirational target set under the Paris Agreement.
In three out of four seasons (or nine months in a year), temperature in India has already increased by more than 1.5 degree C since the beginning of the 20th century
What should be a cause of worry is that winters and pre- monsoon (summers) and post-monsoon seasons have seen rapidly increasing warming.
The analysis looks at temperature trends in the country – both annual and seasonal – from 1901 till recent years. And it finds that the country has been getting warmer continuously, consistently and rapidly.
It further says that mean temperature during winter months is now over 2 degree C warmer than in the beginning of the 20th century.
"In the winter of 2016-17, the mean temperature was 2.95 degree C higher than the 1901-1930 baseline – the warmest in recorded history. It is only during the monsoon months that the temperature increase is about 1 degree C," the study said.
It records 2016 as the second warmest year on record. 13 out of the 15 warmest years were during the past 15 years (2002-2016). The last decade (2001-2010/ 2007-2016) was also the warmest on record