GUWAHATI, Oct 31 - It seems the summer season is getting longer every passing year at the cost of the autumn and the winter in this part of the globe. Some years back, days were found to be colder during this period of the year, known as the autumn. Here, a chill was felt in the early morning hours, during this period, some years back. But now, the situation is quite different.
This autumn, people are still comfortable here with their normal summer attire even in the early morning hours. The dew drops that added to the special attraction of the night and morning hours here during this period of the year, are also absent till date this year.
Prof Sarbeswar Kalita, Head of the Department (HoD) of the Gauhati University (GU) Environmental Science, attributes this situation to rapid deforestation taking place in the NE region. He said in the NE region, like in the other parts of the country, deforestation is increasing rapidly, which is resulting in higher atmospheric temperature. Deforestation leads to increase in the atmospheric temperature and decrease in relative humidity, he maintained.
Further, he said intensity of heat island effect is also increasing day by day because of the rapid urban growth.
According to the Borjhar-based Regional Meteorology Centre (RMC) sources here, the maximum (day) temperature has been fluctuating between 31 degree Celsius and 32 degree Celsius in the city since October 26. This reflects a departure of one degree Celsius to two degree Celsius from the normal maximum temperature of the city for this period. However, the city has been recording a below two degree Celsius (actual 18 degree Celsius) to three degree Celsius (actual 17 degree Celsius) minimum temperature since October 28, sources said.
A light rain is expected to bring about a change in the prevailing situation. At present, a cyclonic circulation over Bangladesh and its neighbourhood, which is found to be at a height of 1.5 km to 2.1 km above the mean sea level, has been obstructing clouding in the NE region. However, it is expected that within the next 48 hours, light rain will occur in the region, the sources said.