Pune: According to the data furnished by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the lowest and the highest minimum temperature for the month of April is steadily rising. In the last five years, it is the second highest night temperature hinting that the nights are now warmer than earlier. Also, there is a steady increase in the maximum night temperature over the last five years.
The minimum temperature of the day is recorded at the night as it is the lowest temperature for the day.
The data available with the IMD suggests that the lowest minimum temperature for the month of April for Pune city has been between 14 degrees to 15 degrees Celsius since 2008.
Only in 2012 and 2016, the temperature spiked to 17 and 16.8 degrees Celsius respectively. The lowest minimum temperature for the April this year is 16.7 degrees Celsius on April 26.
The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) scientists have said that there is evidence that climate change is making temperatures warmer and the globe has become warmer by one degree.
Speaking of climate change, Executive Director, Centre for Climate Change Research, IITM, R Krishnan said, “The effect of climate change can be seen since last 50 to 60 years across India. It can be seen that mean temperature has increased and the extreme temperatures have also increased.”
The maximum night temperature also highlights a rise. In 2013, the maximum night temperature was reported to be 23.6 degrees Celsius on April 26 and in 2017, the maximum night temperature was reported to be 25.7 degrees Celsius on April 1.
This year, the maximum temperature in the month of April in the city was reported to be at 25.2 on April 17. According to the IMD, the temperature on this day was 5.5 degrees more than the expected minimum temperature for that day.
Speaking about the increase in night temperatures, DS Pai, Head, Climate Prediction at Climate Research Division of IMD said that at present, the higher temperatures in Pune are mainly due to warm currents flowing to Maharashtra and Pune from northern parts of the country.