Coimbatore: Residents of Coimbatore have to brace up for hotter days as the soaring temperature has crossed the 100 degree Fahrenheit in the city on Monday.
On Monday, the temperature rose to 37.8 degree Celsius (100 degeree farenheit). “Normally the temperature reaches the 100 degree Fahrenheit only in the month of April, but it has gone up very early this year,” said S Panneerselvam, professor and head of Agro Climate Research Centre at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU).
The maximum temperature has been gradually shooting over the last few days. The day temperature, which stood consistently at 36.5 degree Celsius on 16, 17 and 18 March rose to 37.4 degree Celsius on Saturday and went up a little higher to 37.6 degree Celsius on Sunday. It raised furthermore on Monday sending strong heat waves in Kovai.
For the last 30 years, the average temperature recorded in Coimbatore in the month of March was just 34.5 degree Celsius. For the last two years, Kovai recorded an average 34.5 degree Celsius in March, while it was 34.2 in 2013, 34.9 in 2012 and 33.5 in 2011. As there were showers in the summer months of March last year, the intensity of the heat was not felt much by the public. Lack of rains had intensified the soaring temperature effect.
Rising temperature is a global phenomenon and is not specific to Coimbatore alone due to the El Nino effect, which is on its end phase. “As the El Nino effect is only at the research level, its impact on Tamil Nadu is yet to be known. It brought different changes in different parts of the world,” said P Gokul, a weather blogger from Chennai.
Dheepakaran, another scientist from TNAU said that the ‘Equinox’ phenomenon, which took place on March 20, could also be a reason for the rise in temperature. During an equinox, which happens twice a year, the Sun is in its zenith over the Equator and the day and night are generally of equal length. “Also summer sets in early in Coimbatore and ends early, while comparing to other districts in Tamil Nadu,” he said.
Increase in temperature is not a phenomenon witnessed only in Coimbatore as other districts across Tamil Nadu too face a similar fate this year. Experts attribute the soaring temperature to lack of rainfall, clear sky that increases solar radiation, emission of green house gases and dwindling count of trees.
