The Indian Meteorological
Department forecasted recently
that the temperature during
summer months are expected to be
above average in the coming
summer months.
The marginal increase in average
temperatures, experts opine, would
result in a cascade affect, which
might jeopardise water security.
Speaking to Deccan Herald,
Director of Karnataka State Natural
Disaster Monitoring Cell
(KSNMDC), V S Prakash said that
the average temperature in
February, March and April was
going to be above normal by 0.5
per cent.
The temperature rise will add to
the pressure on water bodies. The
amount of water required to
irrigate crops due to the marginal
rise in temperature will be higher
by about 10 per cent, he said.
Apart from this, consumption of
power and drinking water will also
rise, he added.
NASA maps
An interactive map by National
Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA), available at
www.warmingworld.newscientistapps.com,
also shows that the region is
witnessing a steady increase in
temperature and it has been
attributed to global warming.
The graphic which displays results
from a global analysis of surface
temperatures from 1880 to the
present day, shows that the
average temperature of Mysore and
other parts of Karnataka, has risen
by one degree celsius, in the past
four decades.
Data available at the website
shows that average temperature of
Mysore, witnessed a spike during
the second half of 1970s, after
which the average temperature has
been increasing consistently
overall, despite the annual
fluctuations. For instance,
variation from average temperature
in 1881 was -0.26 degree celsius;
+0.40 degree celsius in 1980; and
+0.81 degree celsius in 2012. Data
for other parts of the State, such
as Bangalore, Mangalore, Gulbarga
and others also show similar rise
in average temperatures.
Prakash said that though there is a
global consensus that temperature
is likely to increase in the future,
region specific studies on the
same are yet to take place.A
scientist at KSNMDC, said that
global warming was a real
phenomenon and was also one of
the factors contributing towards
ground water depletion.
"In Karnataka this is the third
consecutive year where the State
has received less than average
rainfall. The effect of temperature
rise will be more in taluks, which
the State government has declared
drought hit," he said. Incidentally,
four of the seven taluks of the
district have been declared as
drought hit by the State
government.
http://m.deccanherald.com/content/386975/1-degree-celsius-jump-1980.html/
