Heat Wave Crisis | Extreme weather event of 2022 Globally
Table of Contents
What is Heat Wave?
A heat wave is a period of exceptionally high surface temperatures that last longer than typical. Heat waves can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks and are a leading cause of weather-related death in both industrialized and developing countries.
In 2022, the heat wave has become a matter of concern and highlighted as a global crisis. To know everything about the heat wave in 2022 the article is helpful as it includes a definition of a heat wave, a global perspective, heat wave impact on Pakistan and its population, its signs and symptoms, and early management.
When the maximum temperature exceeds 40°C and is at least 4.5°C above average, a heatwave is proclaimed.
11 Deadliest Heat Waves on Record Globally
Global Consequences of Heat Wave
Many people die as a result of oppressively hot and humid air masses hovering over populous places, especially in the middle latitudes, where many people, including the very young, the very old, and those with health problems, are more sensitive to heat stress.
The Russian heat wave of 2010 (which covered 1,036,000 square kilometres [400,000 square miles] and killed 55,000 people), the European heat wave of 2003 (which killed over 30,000 people), the United States heat wave and drought of 1988 (which killed over 4,000 people), and the Indian heat wave of 2015 are all recent examples (which killed more than 2,500 people).
Pakistan Heat Wave and Climate Change
Facts & Figures
Pakistan, which has a population of 220 million people, claims to be responsible for less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Daily high and low temperatures will rise by at least 5 degrees F in most locations by mid-century, rising to 10 degrees F by the late century if greenhouse gas emissions are not drastically reduced. The National Climate Assessment predicts 20-30 more days exceeding 90 degrees F in most places by mid-century.
According to a 2021 analysis by environmental group Germanwatch, Pakistan is the tenth most affected country by extreme weather events.
Pakistan's mountainous regions have more than 7,000 glaciers, more than any other region outside of the poles.
Glaciers that melt quickly can fill lakes to the point that they burst their banks, releasing torrents of ice, rock, and water in glacial lake outburst floods.
The Indus river, Pakistan's main waterway, has dropped by 65 percent this year "due to a lack of rains and snow,"
When heat waves are paired with high humidity, they become much more deadly. The heat index measures the combination of temperature and humidity. When compared to the end of the twentieth century, a recent study predicts that the yearly number of days with a heat index above 100 degrees F will double, and days with a heat index exceeding 105 degrees F would treble.
According to the international catastrophe database EM-DAT, a 2015 heat wave in India/Pakistan killed 3,477 people, making it the fourth deadliest heat wave in history. In the EM-DAT database, four of the 11 heat waves with a death toll of over 1,000 have occurred in India or Pakistan.
Slide Share: Pakistan’s Monthly Climate Report April, 2022 by Pakistan Metrological Department
Pakistan saw the warmest March in at least 60 years. Temperatures in Pakistan were “compatible with what we expect in a changing climate,” according to the World Meteorological Organization. Heat waves are becoming more common and powerful, and they are beginning sooner than in the past.”
Day temperatures in Punjab, Islamabad, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Kashmir are expected to continue 07-09°C above normal due to the heat wave, while 06-08°C above normal in Sindh and Balochistan.
Hot, dry weather in most portions of the country, with severe heat wave conditions affecting the plains. On May 14 the greatest temperature was 51 degrees Celsius in Jacobabad, Nawabshah, with 50.5 degrees , 50 degrees in Sukkur and Mohenjo Daro, and 49 degrees in Dadu, Larkana, and Sakrand.
Pakistan is witnessing what many refer to as a "spring-less year" for the first time in decades.
Consequences of Heat Wave 2022 | Updated
While excessive heat has obvious consequences, it can also set off a chain reaction of calamities that wreak havoc on Pakistan’s destitute populace. Higher wet-bulb temperatures will be especially problematic in the Indus River Valley, which runs along the India-Pakistan border, where tens of thousands of labourers work outside in pre-monsoon heat that can reach lethal levels from April through July.
Six days have passed at Jacobabad, Pakistan, when the wet-bulb temperature has above the human survival limit. Heat waves impose a serious threat to human health. Water stress affects water, crops, and the environment. Other forms of calamities can be exacerbated by extreme temperatures. Drought can be exacerbated by heat, and hot, dry conditions can lead to wildfires.
The urban heat island effect occurs when buildings, roads, and infrastructure absorb heat, resulting in temperatures that are 1 to 7 degrees F hotter in urban regions than in outlying locations. This effect is greatest during the day, but overnight, the delayed release of heat from infrastructure can keep cities significantly hotter than neighbouring places. People, ecosystems, and the economy are all threatened by rising temperatures across the country.
Health Effects due to Heat Wave
- Heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heatstroke, and hyperthermia can all occur when the body’s ability to regulate temperature is compromised by rapid heat gain caused by exposure to hotter than average conditions.
- Heat-related deaths and hospitalizations can occur very quickly (the same day) or have a delayed effect (a few days later), resulting in accelerated mortality or illness among the already feeble, as seen in the opening days of heat waves. Even minor deviations from seasonal normal temperatures are linked to an increased risk of disease and death.
- Extreme temperatures can exacerbate chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular, pulmonary, and cerebrovascular disease, as well as diabetes-related complications.
- Climate change is also having a negative influence on human health, with rising temperatures encouraging the spread of hazardous infections like cholera.Thousands of people have been afflicted with cholera connected to contaminated drinking water in central Pakistan, which is grappling with a water shortage aggravated by a blistering heat wave in South Asia.
- Heat has significant indirect health consequences. The effects of heat on human behaviour are well documented.Disease transmission, health-care delivery, air quality, and vital social infrastructure such as energy, transportation, and water are all examples.
Melting Glaciers and Floods
- Pakistan’s mountainous regions have more than 7,000 glaciers, more than any other region outside of the poles.
- Glaciers that melt quickly can fill lakes to the point that they burst their banks, releasing torrents of ice, rock, and water in glacial lake outburst floods.
- Recently, flash water driven by glacial melt took away a crucial highway bridge in Gilgit-Baltistan. Officials already warned in April that 33 lakes in Pakistan were in danger of causing similar disastrous floods.
Power Outages
- High temperatures have put a strain on electricity supplies in Pakistan, where residents have had to endure hours of power outages due to the oppressive heat.
- Turbat, Pakistan, a city of around 200,000 people, currently gets very little energy, with up to nine hours of load shedding each day, rendering air conditioners and freezers useless.
- Wheat fields have been harmed, and the area has recently had 18-hour power outages.
Effect of Heat Wave on Fruits and Crops
- The heat wave has already wreaked havoc on crops such as wheat and a variety of fruits and vegetables. Wheat crop yields in Pakistan have decreased by up to 50% in some of the areas hardest impacted by the high heat, raising fears of global shortages in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has already had a disastrous impact on supply.
- Harvests have been decimated in Balochistan’s Mastung area, which is noted for its apple and peach orchards. Apple trees bloomed more than a month early, then in despair as the blossoms sizzled and ultimately died in the unseasonably dry heat, nearly destroying his whole crop. Farmers in the area also mentioned a “dramatic” drought.
- Wheat fields have been harmed, and the area has recently had 18-hour power outages. The number of fruits grown has dwindled; now only a handful remain. This weather has cost farmers billions of dollars. We’re in pain and can’t afford to be.”
https://twitter.com/ClimateHuman/status/1527529268271493122
Why Talk Up Extreme Heat?
Heat can kill by pushing the human body to its limits. The body’s internal thermostat creates perspiration, which evaporates and cools the body under normal circumstances. Evaporation is slowed in intense heat and heavy humidity, and the body must work extra hard to maintain a normal temperature.
Extreme heat is more likely to affect the elderly, small children, and those who are sick or overweight. Men are more susceptible to heat illness than women because they sweat more and become dehydrated more quickly.
The length of extreme heat has a significant impact on how individuals are affected by a heat wave.
When extreme heat lasts longer than two days, studies reveal a considerable increase in heat-related ailments. Heat-related illnesses are considerably reduced when people spend at least two hours per day in air conditioning.
What does extreme heat imply?
The limits of an excessive heat watch, warning, or advice may differ depending on where you are. Extreme heat is defined as temperatures that are 10 degrees or higher over the region’s average high temperature, linger for lengthy periods of time, and are frequently accompanied by excessive humidity, which the body cannot withstand. A heat wave can be quite harmful.
People in urban settings may be more vulnerable to the impacts of a prolonged heat wave than those in rural ones. When stagnant atmospheric conditions trap pollutants in metropolitan areas, adding unhealthy air to extremely hot temperatures, and increased health hazards can arise, especially for people with respiratory problems.
Furthermore, asphalt and concrete store heat for extended periods of time and gradually release it at night, resulting in much greater nighttime temperatures in urban areas, a phenomenon known as the “urban heat island effect.”
Keep an eye out for signs
Cool, damp, pale, or flushed skin; heavy sweating; headache; nausea or vomiting; dizziness; and weariness are all symptoms of heat exhaustion. It’s possible that your body temperature is normal or that it’s rising.
Signs and Symptoms
Heat stroke is characterized by hot, red skin, altered consciousness, a fast, weak pulse, and quick, shallow breathing. The body temperature might rise to as high as 105 degrees Fahrenheit. However, fainting could be the first symptom. The skin may be damp if the person was sweating from hard exertion or activity; otherwise, it may feel dry. However, fainting could be the first symptom.
Heat Stroke Management
Cool the body quickly. Immerse the victim in a chilly bath or wrap it in damp linens and fan it. Keep an eye out for signs of breathing difficulties. Continue to keep the person lying down and cool the body in whatever way you can. Do not give anything to eat or drink if the victim refuses water, is vomiting, or has a change in level of awareness.
Heat Cramps
Move the person to a cooler location and allow him or her to relax comfortably. Stretch the injured muscle gently and drink plenty of water. Every 15 minutes, give a half glass of cool water. Liquids containing alcohol or caffeine should not be given because they can promote more dehydration, worsening the situation.
Get help for heat exhaustion
Remove the sufferer from the heat and take them somewhere cooler. Apply cool, moist materials, such as towels or sheets, to loosen or remove tight garments. If the person is awake, give them some cool water to drink. Ascertain that the individual drinks slowly. Every 15 minutes, give a half glass of cool water. Allow the victim to relax in a comfortable posture while you monitor his or her condition.
What Should You Do in Extreme Heat?
- Save electricity that isn’t required to keep you cool.
- As much as possible, stay inside.
- Too much sun should be avoided.
- Take it easy. Avoid doing anything vigorous.
- Outdoor games and activities should be postponed.
- Extreme temperature changes should be avoided.
- Keep the heat out and the cool air in.
- During periods of excessive usage, vacuum air conditioner filters once a week.
- Dress comfortably.
- If you must work outside, take frequent breaks.
- Drink plenty of water on a regular basis.
- Eat smaller meals more frequently.
- In a closed car, NEVER leave children or pets alone.
Salt tablets should only be used if prescribed by a doctor. - Avoid alcoholic and caffeine-containing beverages.
- When working in intense heat, form a buddy system.
Even if you don’t feel thirsty, drink plenty of water. - Save that electricity that isn’t required to keep you cool.
- As much as possible, stay inside.
- Too much sun should be avoided.
- Take it easy. Avoid doing anything vigorous.
- Outdoor games and activities should be postponed.
- Extreme temperature changes should be avoided.
- Keep the heat out and the cool air in.
- If you don’t have air conditioning at home, go to a public building with air conditioning for several hours each day.