That the year 2017 is going to be one of the hottest years ever is no surprise. What is however somewhat pleasantly surprising is that the year is likely to end up cooler than the previous one. One of the reasons evidently is the heavy monsoon rains in case of South Asia and under the influence of El Nino record-breaking hurricanes one after another - and within a short span - in the Caribbean and the Atlantic. According to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), the years from 2013 to 2017 are likely to remain 'the hottest five-year period on record.' This message may sound ambiguous if not adequately explained. The point conveyed here is that no other five-year period was as hot as this period was at a stretch. If the same applies for the future, no five-year period is likely to be hotter than this period also.
Now the question is if this is logically possible. True, like seasonal variations, there is a cycle of climate when past conditions are repeated with minor alterations. This means many of the natural phenomena can be experienced almost similarly by different generations. The inherent message here is that despite the global warming, some years may defy the rise in temperature or experience weather conditions similar to the one experienced, say, 60 or hundred years ago. This is heartening against the backdrop of rising global temperature. Doesn't it sound too good to believe? Well, climatologists or weathermen may be predictive but not accurate in their predictions. They are somewhat confused over the fact the temperature was rising no matter if there was the presence of El Nino or not. For the first nine months of this year, the temperature was 1.1 degree Celsius above the pre-industrial level.
This is certainly not good news for people in South Asia. Other reports have referred to wet-bulb temperature which means temperature of 35 degree Celsius or above combined with humidity can wreak havoc in this region. Under the burning sun, people will die of heat stroke in large numbers. Even there will be no respite from the heat stroke for the poor under shed unless they have electric fans to cool down their bodies. Farmers will be particularly at a disadvantage to work in crop fields.
Such predictions do not quite match with the cyclic order of temperature. If the current five-year period is hottest ever, at least there is a possibility that some of the years in the future will not be equally hot. But the WMO has recorded as high as 50 degree Celsius in Asia. Although the particular place has not been mentioned, it presents a frightening picture. Even if it is recorded in desert regions, there is no doubt that climate is exhibiting its capricious behaviour. In short, climate and weather are turning hostile to life -all forms of life on the planet. That it is a backlash against excessive human encroachment on Nature can be realised even by laymen. So there is need for restoring Nature as much as possible instead of spoiling it.
