Iran village hits dangerous 82.2°C heat index

NEW YORK, Aug 29: A village off the southern coast of Iran may have hit dangerously high temperatures this week, with the weather station at the Dayrestan Airport recording a heat index of 82.2°C on August 28.

If confirmed, the heat index and a corresponding dew point of 36.1°C could be among the highest such readings ever recorded on the planet.

According to records maintained by the US’s National Weather Service, which collates data from the METAR (the aerodrome routine meteorological report used by aviation pilots and meteorologists) Global readings, the Dayrestan Airport weather station recorded a temperature of 38.8°C at 10.30am on August 28.

Viewed alone, the temperature isn’t as alarming. But, with a relative humidity of 85%, it combines to give the HI, or “feels like” temperature, of 82.2°C.

Typically, higher temperatures are recorded in arid regions, where the humidity is likely to be lower. The body actually feels cooler in arid conditions.

When the body gets too hot, it begins to perspire or sweat to cool itself off. When perspiration is evaporated off the body, it effectively reduces the body’s temperature. If the perspiration is not able to evaporate, the body cannot regulate its temperature. Thus, the human body feels warmer in humid conditions (at higher RH).

Prolonged exposure to a heat index between 40-54°C is associated with heatstroke.

Dew point, meanwhile, is the temperature point at which the air can hold no more water (water vapour).

While the records are yet to be verified, a heat wave has blanketed much of West Asia in recent weeks, with temperatures in the region soaring to 50°C. Similar conditions last month forced authorities to cut operating hours at various facilities and order all government and commercial institutions to close on Sunday to conserve energy, as hundreds lined up at hospitals for heatstroke treatment.

The August 28 record serves as a dire warning for the worsening conditions in the Global South, with experts predicting that heatwaves are likely to get lengthier and more frequent.

Delhi Residents Lose Nearly 12 Years Of Their Lives To Air Pollution: Report

NEW DELHI, Aug 28: Delhi's persistent air pollution is reducing the life expectancy of its residents, according to the latest Air Quality Life Index 2024 report, which highlights the city's status as one of the most polluted regions in the northern plains.

According to a report by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC), 1.8 crore people living in the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, one of the most polluted regions in the northern plains, are on track to lose an average of 11.9 years of life expectancy compared to the World Health Organisation's (WHO) guidelines.

Even by India's own national standards, the residents stand to lose 8.5 years of life expectancy if current pollution levels persist.

Delhi, the capital and most populous city of India, also holds the dubious distinction of being the most polluted city globally, the report said.

However, the report also said if India were to meet its national PM2.5 standards, life expectancy for Delhi's residents could increase by 8.5 years and if it met the WHO standards, nearly 12 years could be added to the life expectancy of Delhi's residents.

PM2.5, a fine particulate matter that can penetrate deep into the respiratory system and trigger respiratory problems, is a significant health risk and a major contributing factor to pollution levels.

The report underscores that the annual PM2.5 standard in India is set at 40 micrograms per cubic metre, yet more than 40 per cent of the population is exposed to air that exceeds this limit.

1 killed, 2 missing after ice cave collapses in Iceland

COPENHAGEN, Aug 26: One person was killed and two were missing after an ice cave in Iceland collapsed on Sunday while it was being explored by tourists, authorities said on Monday.

The victims were part of a 25-member group from several countries who were in the natural cave, located under a glacier, when the incident occurred.

One person was declared dead soon after the incident, while rescue teams conducted an extensive and difficult search for two individuals believed to be trapped under the ice, police said in a statement.

"It's difficult to get equipment to the area, the rescue missions are therefore mainly done by hand, digging and breaking the ice," chief of police for the Southern region, Sveinn Kristjan Runarsson, told broadcaster Stod 2.

One person was injured and taken to hospital in stable condition, police said.

The nationalities of those involved were not immediately disclosed. The incident took place on Breidamerkurjokull in southern Iceland, part of Western Europe's largest glacier, Vatnajokul.