Oops, This Bitter Winter! Why So Extreme It?
- Dr (Ms) Sharad Singh
Writer, Author & Social Activist
Blogger - "Climate Diary Of Dr (Ms) Sharad Singh"
*It is strange to think that the effects of cold weather are increasing every year, especially in areas that were not so cold before. It also seems strange that on one hand we talk about global warming and on the other hand we are seen shivering with bone-chilling cold. And, it is even stranger to know that we humans are to some extent responsible for this bitter cold. How? Knowing this, perhaps instead of blaming the weather, we will repent for our own mistakes. So let's see what are these mistakes and can they be rectified?*
This time, from January 1, 2022, severe cold has started in many areas of North India. Such a cold is often called 'bone-chilling cold'. When this type of extreme change occurs in the weather, it also becomes a topic of common conversation. Similarly, I was having a discussion about the weather with one of my acquaintances. He said that this cold is getting out of tolerance. Then I reminded him that it was just the beginning of winter. Now it will get colder. He also said that earlier it was not so cold. Then I have tell him that we are also responsible for this severe cold. He was surprised and asked how is that? Then I started reminding them one by one the reasons which can be said to be due to the changes in the weather. So you can also think about these.
I reminded him that earlier there used to be many trees in cities, villages and settlements. Those trees used to keep the temperature balanced. Not only did they work as an umbrella, they also used to balance the direction of the winds. I reminded him that look, this year I had to cut down the bushy tree in front of the window of my one of the room, because he was nearly crushed by a car collision. Now because of the absence of that tree, the window panes of my room become colder than before. Whereas earlier there were not so many cold because the dense leaves of that tree prevented the cold winds from reaching the window. That is, only a bushy tree used to protect a window and a room from the cold. So just think that we have cut down the lot of trees which could have protected us from the cold winds. Instead, we have created a concrete jungle. That's why you will have to bear more cold.
I reminded him that we had dug out and leveled the small hills and mounds which protected us from the cold winds by setting the direction of the winds. We had dug out and leveled these just so that we could get gravel for our concrete buildings, wide roads, etc. The rocks present in those small hills and dunes used to absorb the heat of the sun and make the temperature of the night balanced. But we didn't think before exploding those hills and dunes with gunpowder. And now when we are shivering from the cold, we are blaming the weather.
It can also be understood that when winter comes, Delhi's winter is discussed a lot after the hilly areas. But, have we ever thought that what is it like in Delhi that not only winter but also summer is so hot here. Actually, the winds coming from Pakistan and Afghanistan affect Delhi the most and these winds pass through Delhi. These winds are very cold and it is said that only these cold winds bring cold in Delhi. Because of these winds, it rains in the north and north-west regions. The arrival of these winds starts in December and along with it the cold weather also starts today. There are many hilly areas around Delhi and the weather of those hilly areas has a great impact on the weather of Delhi as well. If there is snowfall there, it affects the weather of Delhi and the cold increases here too. Apart from this, the snowfall at this time in Jammu-Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and nearby areas also increases the cold in this area. Apart from these two geographical reasons, there is light mist in the morning due to moisture. As the day progresses, this mist rises up to 100-300 meters and forms light clouds. In such a situation, the temperature on the ground remains low and along with dust particles, moisture also remains. After this, these light clouds spread till Bihar and prevented the rays of the sun from reaching the earth. Because of this, sunlight does not reach the ground and the temperature remains low. Also, the cold is always there, while in other cities there is little relief during the day. The Delhi-cooling winds now reach areas of northern India unhindered where earlier they could not reach with that intensity due to hills, forests and dunes. Four lanes, highways etc. have given us ease in traffic, but due to the forests that have been cut and the hills have been flattened, the speed of the spread of cold winds has increased. We also have to remember that not only we humans feel cold, animals and plants also feel cold. Many animals, birds die due to cold and crops suffer a lot. If the crop is bad then the production of grains is less and due to less production, inflation increases. That is, imbalance in weather affects life in different ways.
Anyone who has ever used well water on cold days will remember that even in severe colds, well water remains warmer than the open environment because it gets thermal heating. We destroyed big wells and stepwells. This is also a reason for the imbalance in temperature. That is, the elements of nature which used to save us from the bitter cold, we destroyed them with our own hands. Then who is to blame for the bitter cold, the weather or us? It is certain that we cannot erect hills and mounds again, but at least we can grow forests. At the same time, by protecting the remaining forests and trees present in the cities, the weather can be saved from deteriorating too much.
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(08.01.2023)
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