look news india
In this era of global warming and rapidly changing climate change, the entire world is in the grip of severe and deadly heat. At present, many countries of Southern and Central Europe are facing a devastating and unprecedented heatwave, which has given sleepless nights to the governments and health systems there. In countries considered cold like France, Spain and Portugal, the mercury of the thermometer is touching 43 degrees Celsius.
The most shocking and shocking thing is that this same 43°C temperature is a very common thing for the people of India during the summer season, which people bear with a smile. But due to this temperature in Europe, there is panic everywhere and in France alone, more than 1000 people have died in agony. After all, why is it that a similar number on the thermometer (43°C) is proving to be so more deadly, cruel and destructive in Europe than in India? According to experts in science, geography and architecture, there is no difference in thermal readings behind this, but there are 8 major and fundamental reasons which make the heat of Europe suffocating for humans.
1. 17 hours of long torture and a special oblique angle of the sun
Most of the geographical part of Europe is located much north on the earth compared to India. For example, the location of Paris is further north than the city of Toronto in Canada. During summer, the angle of the sun here is such that instead of falling directly on the head, the sunlight falls obliquely, but the surprising thing is that there is daylight in the sky for 15 to 17 hours. Due to continuous sunlight for such a long time, the concrete buildings, asphalt roads and footpaths of the cities keep absorbing solar energy (temperature) throughout the day, due to which they are not able to cool down even at night and the nights also become as hot as a furnace.
2. Pollution free clear sky: Harsh rays hitting the skin directly
In the cities of India, the level of dust particles and pollution in the air is slightly higher, which scatters the direct rays of the sun in the atmosphere like a protective shield, thereby reducing the sting of the sun a little. In contrast, due to strict regulations in Europe the sky is absolutely clear and pollution free. Due to the absence of dust particles in the air, the ultraviolet and sharp rays of the sun directly attack the human skin, due to which even at a temperature of 43°C, the sun there feels more scorching and intense than in India.
3. Complete cessation of wind and formation of ‘hot air balloon’
During the recent heatwave and worsening weather patterns, the movement of air in Europe’s atmosphere has completely come to a standstill. When there is no wind at all, an invisible balloon of hot air is formed over densely populated cities. Due to lack of air, the natural cooling system of the human body (evaporation process of drying sweat) stops working completely, due to which people start suffocating inside closed rooms.
4. Dry heat and the deadly game of ‘silent dehydration’
In India, there is often humidity along with heat, due to which our body sweats continuously and we keep feeling thirsty, due to which we drink water. But the heat in the interior plains of Europe is very dry. Here the sweat coming out of the body immediately evaporates into the air, due to which the person is unable to realize at what frightening rate his body is losing water. This ‘silent dehydration’ is suddenly causing multi-organ failure of the body organs and is becoming the biggest cause of death of the elderly.
5. Houses like ‘thermos’ and oven, which do not allow heat to come out
If we look at the history and architecture of European houses, they have been specially designed for centuries keeping in mind the harsh cold, heavy snowfall and long winters. The walls of these houses are very thick and insulated, the windows are small in size and the roofs are dark colored so that even a little heat from outside remains trapped inside and the house remains warm.
This boon of winter has now become the biggest curse for the people there in this era of global warming. Once these concrete houses are heated, they keep heating inside 24 hours like an oven. In contrast, traditional Indian homes are built with high ceilings, open verandahs, cool tiled flooring and cross-ventilation to allow heat to escape quickly.
6. Lack of air conditioning (AC) and fans in the infrastructure
In European lifestyle and culture, AC (Air Conditioner) was never a part of their priority or need. In big cities like Paris, Berlin or London, the average summer temperature was usually around 25°C, so most of the houses there had neither ceiling fans nor AC fittings. Now the domestic infrastructure there is not at all prepared to deal with this unprecedented and deadly heat, whereas in India, coolers, fans and ACs are considered basic and essential needs of summer.
7. Strict and strange laws of beauty of historical cities
Europe’s historically and culturally rich cities (such as Paris, Rome or Florence) have very strict laws to maintain ‘architectural aesthetics’ in their older and main residential areas. Under these rules, there is a complete legal ban on installing outdoor AC compressor or duct on the exterior of any historical or old building so that the visual look of the walking paths and the outdoor café culture there is not spoiled. These government rules made to save beauty are proving to be a boon for people in today’s emergency.
8. ‘Biological Adaptation’: Body’s inability to adapt to the weather
People of India are acclimatized from birth to extreme temperatures ranging from 40°C to 45°C every year. By repeatedly facing extreme heat, our biological system adapts to it, due to which our heart and cardiovascular system work better even in adverse conditions and the body immediately cools itself internally by sweating. In contrast, the body and genetics of European people are not at all accustomed to such hot weather, due to which their blood pressure and heart are unable to respond suddenly to such extreme heat and people become victims of heat stroke.
To think that Indian people are better only physically is not entirely correct; Rather, the geographical and structural structure of both the continents has a big role behind it. While the humid heat of India is sticky and tiring, the dry heat of Europe, hot concrete buildings, lack of wind and burning sun for 17 hours continuously is making the nights there also hell. This is the reason that when the temperature in Europe reaches 43 degrees, it starts taking away thousands of innocent lives like a terrible natural disaster.