Mercury soars, UV radiation levels also disturbingly high

Delhiites on Wednesday wilted under the scorching heat even as the mercury dipped by three notches to settle at 41.8 degrees Celsius.

The minimum temperature today settled three notches below the season’s average at 24.8 degrees Celsius, a MET department official said.

The humidity level oscillated between 47 and 12 <g data-gr-id="48">per cent</g>.

However, <g data-gr-id="56">respite</g> from the heat is on the cards with the weatherman forecasting partly cloudy sky along with the possibility of <g data-gr-id="57">dust</g> storm and <g data-gr-id="55">thunder storm</g> in some parts of the city tomorrow.

“The sky will be partly cloudy. Dust storm and <g data-gr-id="54">thunder storm</g> can occur in some areas. The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to hover around 43 and 26 degrees respectively,” the official said.

Meanwhile, the rising temperature has put Delhi at high risk of ultraviolet (UV) rays with the national Capital receiving alarming levels of radiation this season, the MET department on Wednesday said.

System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting Research (SAFAR), which facilitates information on air quality, weather and radiation (ultraviolet index), started measuring the harmful rays received by the national capital on May 15. SAFAR, which operates under the aegis of Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, has revealed that Delhi has been receiving UV rays much more than the normal limits.

Delhi recorded 8.6 on the UV index on Tuesday while it was 8.2 at noon on Wednesday, SAFAR’s Project Director Gufran Beig said.

According to <g data-gr-id="45">Beig</g>, the 1-4 range on the UV index is considered as no <g data-gr-id="46">risk,</g> while 4-5 and 5-7 are considered as low and medium risk respectively.

“7-10 is classified as <g data-gr-id="50">high risk</g> range,” he said, adding that anything beyond the range of 10 is termed as “critical” or “extreme risk”. 

Under the last two <g data-gr-id="43">categories</g> all people are advised to avoid direct sun exposure. 

Pune, another city where SAFAR has been recording UV index, too is exposed to high levels of radiations. The city recorded UV index of 8.9 on May 23 with the figure hovering above 8.3 since May 17, <g data-gr-id="47">Beig</g> said.

Maximum range is recorded between 12 to 3 pm while 1 pm is known to be the peak time.

“One of the reasons for the high range of UV rays is rising temperature. Also, these cities are close to the equator. However, in the case of Pune, it is more closer to the equator than Delhi and this is why the UV range is higher there despite recording lesser temperature,” <g data-gr-id="58">Beig</g> said.

Prolonged human exposure to solar UV radiation may result in acute and chronic health effects on the skin, <g data-gr-id="53">eye</g> and immune system. Sunburn (erythema) is the commonly known acute effect of excessive UV radiation exposure.

“When the exposure is for longer term like it has been happening for the past one month when UV index is more than 7, UV radiation induces degenerative changes in cells of the skin, fibrous tissue and blood vessels leading to premature skin aging, actinic keratoses. Another long-term effect is an inflammatory reaction of the eye,” he added.