{"id":103033,"date":"2026-05-12T11:26:23","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T05:56:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=103033"},"modified":"2026-05-12T11:26:23","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T05:56:23","slug":"key-climate-terms-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/key-climate-terms-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"Key Climate Terms Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><b>Climate Terms Latest News<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India is entering a summer marked by multiple climate extremes, including unseasonal rainfall from Western Disturbances, the possible impact of El Ni\u00f1o on monsoon patterns, and rising heatwaves intensified by humidity.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These weather conditions are making temperatures feel more severe than actual readings and are influencing rainfall, heat stress, and seasonal climate patterns across the country.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The article explains key climate terms shaping this summer\u2019s weather and their practical implications for everyday life.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Western Disturbance<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a fresh Western Disturbance over North India between May 11 and May 13, 2026.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>About Western Disturbance<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A Western Disturbance is an eastward-moving rain-bearing weather system that originates beyond Afghanistan and Iran and influences weather conditions in North India and neighbouring regions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These systems gather moisture from the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, Caspian Sea, and Arabian Sea.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Western Disturbances are <\/span><b>extra-tropical cyclones<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> formed due to interactions between polar and tropical air masses, creating low-pressure systems that bring rain and snowfall.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They are embedded within the subtropical <\/span><b>westerly jet stream<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2014 a high-altitude, fast-moving air current flowing from west to east over the Himalayan and Tibetan regions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Western Disturbances are most common during the winter months from December to March, although they can also bring unseasonal rainfall during summer.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These weather systems mainly affect: northwestern India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and parts of Central Asia such as Tajikistan.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>What Does an El Ni\u00f1o Year Mean<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">El Ni\u00f1o Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a climate phenomenon involving changes in Pacific Ocean temperatures and atmospheric conditions that influence global weather patterns.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ENSO has three phases:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">El Ni\u00f1o \u2013 warm phase,\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">La Ni\u00f1a \u2013 cool phase, and\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Neutral phase.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These cycles generally occur every 2 to 7 years.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Under neutral conditions, the eastern Pacific Ocean near South America remains cooler than the western Pacific near Indonesia because trade winds push warm surface water westward.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>What Happens During El Ni\u00f1o<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During El Ni\u00f1o, the eastern Pacific Ocean becomes unusually warm, disrupting atmospheric circulation and weakening moisture-bearing winds reaching India.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">El Ni\u00f1o conditions often lead to:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weak or delayed monsoons,\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">dry spells in agricultural regions, and\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">more frequent and intense heatwaves across India.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The U.S. Climate Prediction Center projected a 61% probability of El Ni\u00f1o developing between May and July 2026 and continuing through the year.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>La Ni\u00f1a and Its Impact<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">La Ni\u00f1a is the opposite phase, marked by cooler eastern Pacific waters. It generally strengthens India\u2019s southwest monsoon by enhancing moisture-bearing winds.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While La Ni\u00f1a often improves rainfall in India, stronger monsoons can also trigger flooding and crop damage during extreme conditions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>What is a Heat Wave<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A Heat wave is a prolonged period of unusually high temperatures significantly above the normal levels of a region.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heat waves can become more severe due to:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">high humidity,\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">strong winds, and\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">longer duration of extreme heat conditions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The India Meteorological Department (IMD) considers heat wave conditions when temperatures reach 40\u00b0C or more in plains, or 30\u00b0C or more in hilly regions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A heat wave may be declared when temperatures are:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4.5\u00b0C to 6.4\u00b0C above normal, while\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a severe heat wave is declared if temperatures exceed 6.4\u00b0C above normal.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regardless of normal temperatures:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a heat wave is declared at 45\u00b0C or above, and\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a severe heat wave is declared at 47\u00b0C or above.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For coastal regions, where humidity is higher, heat wave conditions may be declared if temperatures reach at least 37\u00b0C and remain significantly above normal.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heat wave criteria must be met in at least two stations within a meteorological subdivision for two consecutive days, with the official declaration issued on the second day.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>What is Wet Bulb Temperature<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The temperature usually measured by a normal thermometer is called Dry Bulb Temperature, which does not account for humidity.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wet Bulb Temperature measures the lowest temperature achievable through evaporation and reflects the effect of humidity on cooling.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wet Bulb Temperature indicates how effectively the human body can cool itself through sweating and evaporation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">High humidity reduces the evaporation of sweat, making it harder for the body to regulate temperature and increasing the risk of heat stress and dehydration.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Difference Between Dry and Wet Bulb Temperatures<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wet Bulb Temperature is generally lower than Dry Bulb Temperature. The difference becomes larger when the air is drier and evaporation is more effective.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Health Risks<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC):<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sustained exposure above 35\u00b0C wet bulb temperature can be fatal, and\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">exposure above 31\u00b0C can become dangerous during intense physical activity.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People with heart disease, diabetes, and outdoor labourers are especially vulnerable because humidity and dehydration increase physical stress during extreme heat.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>What is \u201cFeels Like\u201d Temperature<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cFeels like\u201d temperature, also known as apparent temperature, is different from Wet Bulb Temperature.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It estimates how hot or cold weather actually feels to the human body by considering humidity and wind conditions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Apparent temperature combines &#8211; actual air temperature, humidity levels, and wind conditions &#8211; to measure human thermal comfort.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Apparent temperature helps people better understand the real physical stress caused by weather conditions, especially during heatwaves and humid summers.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Heat Index<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The \u201cfeels like\u201d temperature is often expressed through the heat index, which combines temperature and relative humidity to estimate how hot conditions feel to the body.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Wind Chill Index<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another type of apparent temperature is the wind chill index, which combines temperature and wind speed to show how cold weather feels when wind removes the body\u2019s insulating warm air layer.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Source:<\/b> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/explained-climate\/western-disturbance-el-nino-heatwave-weather-terms-meaning-10678106\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">IE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key climate terms explained include Western Disturbance, El Ni\u00f1o, heat waves, wet bulb temperature, and feels like temperature shaping India\u2019s extreme summer weather.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":103047,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[7484,60,22,59],"class_list":{"0":"post-103033","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","8":"tag-climate-terms","9":"tag-mains-articles","10":"tag-upsc-current-affairs","11":"tag-upsc-mains-current-affairs-tag","12":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103033","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=103033"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103033\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":103049,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103033\/revisions\/103049"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/103047"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=103033"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=103033"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=103033"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}