Climate mitigation and adaptation actions need to be localised.

Introduction

Climate change is a global phenomenon, meaning it affects all parts of the world, regardless of geographic location. This interconnected impact is due to the Earth’s atmosphere and oceans being part of a global system, where changes in one region can have ripple effects across the globe. Here are several examples to justify why climate change is a global phenomenon:

Rising Sea Levels is due to various factors: increase in temperature driven by CO2 emissions into the atmosphere since late 19thcentury resulting into melting of polar ice that is adding more water to the oceanic system and expansion of water volume as the oceanic temperature increases. And we can see the global impact of rising sea levels that threaten coastal communities worldwide, including cities like New York, Shanghai, and Mumbai. This also impacts island nations such as the Maldives, which face the threat of becoming uninhabitable.

Over the past few weeks, the author has focused his research on climate change, particularly examining the region of Odisha, a coastal state in India. His aim has been to understand the various dynamics driving extreme weather conditions and to explore potential approaches for developing solutions addressing the climate change in this region.

Key Extreme Weather Events witnessed by people of Odisha are:

1. Heatwaves. A significant increase in the frequency and intensity of heatwaves have been observed where the state regularly experiences temperatures soaring above 40°C during summer, particularly affecting the western and interior regions. This has severe health impacts, leading to increased cases of heatstroke and dehydration. 

2. Cyclones. Odisha’s coastline is prone to cyclones originating from the Bay of Bengal. The frequency and intensity of these cyclones have increased, with notable recent examples including Cyclone Fani (2019) and Cyclone Amphan (2020). Cyclones cause widespread damage to infrastructure, homes, and agriculture. They also result in significant economic losses and displacement of communities. 

3. Flooding. The monsoon season brings heavy rainfall, often leading to severe flooding in low-lying and coastal areas. The erratic nature of monsoon patterns due to climate change exacerbates the frequency and severity of floods. Flooding results in loss of life, damage to property, and disruption of livelihoods. It also poses health risks due to waterborne diseases and hampers access to clean water and sanitation.

4. Drought. While certain areas of Odisha experience excessive rainfall, others suffer from prolonged dry spells. This irregularity in rainfall patterns contributes to drought conditions, especially in the western and interior districts. Droughts lead to water scarcity, reduced agricultural productivity, and increased food insecurity. They also affect the availability of drinking water and can lead to conflicts over water resources.

Causes of extreme weather

1. Global Climate Change. The increase in global temperatures due to greenhouse gas emissions is a primary driver of extreme weather events. Higher temperatures exacerbate heatwaves and influence ocean temperatures, contributing to more intense cyclones.

2. Deforestation. Deforestation and changes in land use, such as mining excavations, urbanization and industrialization, reduce the land’s natural ability to regulate temperature and absorb rainfall, leading to increased vulnerability to extreme weather.

3. Oceanic and Atmospheric Circulation. The Bay of Bengal’s warm waters and atmospheric conditions play a crucial role in the formation and intensification of cyclones. Changes in oceanic circulation patterns due to climate change further enhance these conditions.

These above are the obvious reasons for climate change. But, the author wants to introduce a new dynamics to this discussion that is topology of a region and how it plays a bigger role in trapping or releasing heat Odisha, plays a significant role in how heat is trapped on the land. Several geographical and climatic factors contribute to this phenomenon:

Geographical Features

The Eastern Ghats: The Eastern Ghats run parallel to the coast but are relatively low in altitude compared to the other parts of Eastern Ghat and Western Ghats. They do not act as significant barriers to the movement of moist air from the Bay of Bengal, allowing more humid air to move inland but not sufficiently high to block or reflect solar radiation. So Mountainous relief also called orographic lifting phenomenon to provide rlief from heat doesn’t occur.

Coastal Plains: Odisha’s coastal plains are flat and expansive, making them more susceptible to the accumulation of heat. The lack of significant elevation means there is little to disrupt the direct heating of the land surface by solar radiation.

Inland Water bodies: The presence of large rivers like the Mahanadi and various lakes and reservoirs can also affect local microclimates. Water bodies absorb heat during the day and release it slowly at night, which can moderate temperature fluctuations but also contribute to higher overall temperatures. 

Solution Approach

In this case, we not only have man made challenges, but we have the topological adversity playing a bigger role. High humidity levels, especially after the monsoon season, can trap heat in the lower atmosphere, leading to increased night-time temperatures. This reduces the cooling effect that typically occurs during the night.

While everyone is working towards reduced CO2 emission to tackle the global temperature rise, this may not yield greater result for region like Odisha unless we look at the holistic view and have adaptation actions for topological adversity discussed above.

How to reduce direct heating of the land?

Planation and agriculture practices that can use humidity from the atmosphere and doesn’t rely on monsoon rain.

Some of the strategy considered to reduce direct heating are:

1. Reforestation and Afforestation: Planting trees and restoring forests in rural and peri-urban areas can significantly increase the amount of shaded land and improve local microclimates.

2. Deploying solar panels: Covering the open space and surface of the water bodies with solar panels, will help to reduce the amount of heat absorbed by the land and water. Solar panels on water bodies in turn, can help to reduce evaporation, save water and maintain a healthy aquatic ecosystem.

3. Mangroves and Coastal Forests: Coastal forests, including mangrove ecosystems, play a significant role in cooling the coastal areas. These green cover areas provide shade, reduce the heat island effect, and help maintain cooler temperatures through transpiration.

4. Reflective: Using light-colored or reflective materials for buildings, roads, and other infrastructure that will reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat. 

5. Cool Roofs: Installing cool roofs with reflective coatings or materials can reduce the amount of heat absorbed by buildings, thereby lowering surrounding temperatures.

6. Urban Greening: Planting trees, shrubs, and other vegetation in urban areas can provide shade and reduce surface temperatures through transpiration.

7. Parks and Green Spaces: Designing urban areas with ample parks and green spaces can reduce overall temperatures by providing shaded areas and promoting natural cooling.

8. Permeable Surfaces: Using permeable materials for pavements and roads allows rainwater to infiltrate the ground, which can reduce surface temperatures and promote cooling through evaporation.

Conclusion

Odisha’s vulnerability to extreme weather events due to climate change necessitates a comprehensive approach involving mitigation, adaptation, and community resilience-building.  The combination of Odisha’s flat coastal plains, low mountain ranges, humid climate, extensive deforestation, and urbanization leads to the trapping of heat on the land. These factors, combined with seasonal weather patterns, result in the region experiencing high temperatures, especially during the post-monsoon and dry seasons. Understanding these geographical and climatic influences is crucial for developing strategies to mitigate heat-related impacts in the region.

This is initial findings and thoughts from the author which needs more detail study in-order to come-up with effective mitigation and adaptation actions. These solution approaches need to be combined with policy actions because of the inhernet complexity and broader scope.

Author is open for comments and potential collaborative works in this area.

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