Author
Kamal Kumar Murari; Subimal Ghosh; Anand Patwardhan; Edoardo Daly; Kaustubh Salvi;
Journal
Regional Environmental Change
Class
Relationship between future high-temperature heat waves and mortality in India
Paper Keyword
Heat wave; Mortality; CMIP5; Heat stress; Adaptation; Climate extremes;
Abstract
Heat waves are expected to intensify around the globe in the future, with potential increase in heat stress and heat-induced mortality in the absence of adaptation measures. India has a high current exposure to heat waves, and with limited adaptive capacity, impacts of increased heat waves might be quite severe. This paper presents the first projections of future heat waves in India based on multiple climate models and scenarios for CMIP5 data. We find that heat waves are projected to be more intense, have longer durations and occur at a higher frequency and earlier in the year. Southern India, currently not influenced by heat waves, is expected to be severely affected by the end of the twenty-first century. Projections indicate that a sizable part of India will experience heat stress conditions in the future. In northern India, the average number of days with extreme heat stress condition during pre-monsoon hot season will reach 30. The intensification of heat waves might lead to severe heat stress and increased mortality.
