Rising Temperatures and Climate Change Impacting Meghalaya
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 21: Navigating through Laitumkhrah’s bustling vegetable market, Kong Battimai struggles with rising costs and unseasonal heat, a concern echoed across Meghalaya. "It’s September!" she exclaims, frustrated by the need for fans instead of light sweaters and the lack of rain for over ten days. This is a worrying sign for a state known for its cool, rainy climate.
Sohra, once famed as one of the wettest places on Earth, is now recording alarming shifts in weather patterns. Indian Meteorological Department data indicates that Sohra reached an extraordinary 30.7°C on Thursday, 8.1°C above normal, with no rainfall in the past 24 hours. Guwahati and Shillong also faced unusual heat, registering 37.5°C and 27.4°C respectively.
These rising temperatures and reduced rainfall are evidences of broader climate change, exacerbated by deforestation. From 2002 to 2023, Meghalaya lost 51.4 kha of humid primary forest, 23% of its total tree cover. Regions like West Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills, and West Garo Hills are hardest hit due to shifting cultivation, illegal logging, and developmental pressures.
Data from IIT Gandhinagar’s Water and Climate Lab shows that Meghalaya’s average temperature has been rising by 0.031°C annually since 1981, contributing to a 1°C increase from 1981 to 2014. Projections suggest a further rise of up to 3.8°C by the century’s end, dramatically altering the region’s traditionally cool climate.
This warming trend severely impacts rain-fed agriculture as crops wilt under intense heat and pests thrive, decreasing yields. Forest fires pose an increased threat, risking further damage to forests and wildlife. In urban centers like Shillong, the unusual heat and rain scarcity disrupt daily routines and amplify concerns.
The region’s climate changes serve as a stark warning. Meghalaya faces a critical challenge as rising temperatures, declining rainfall, and vanishing forests signal a larger, more perilous environmental trend.
Original Story https://theshillongtimes.com/?p=701055
Category : MEGHALAYA
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