Heatwave: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the temperature in Delhi on Wednesday reached 52.9 degrees Celsius, which was the highest temperature ever recorded in the country. Earlier, the Phalodi meteorological station in Rajasthan registered the hottest temperature ever recorded in the nation.
Safdarjung Observatory Records High Temperature
The main weather station in Delhi, the Safdarjung observatory, also recorded a maximum temperature of 46.8 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, according to news agency PTI. The IMD officials speculated that there might have been a “error in the sensor or the local factor (s)” as the cause of the record-breaking heat.
Delhi also had light rain and gusty gusts following the record temperature, which brought much-needed relief from the sweltering heat. On Wednesday afternoon, the city’s power demand reached an all-time high of 8,302 megawatts (MW) amidst the record temperature.
For the first time in its history, the national capital’s power consumption has surpassed 8,300 megawatts. According to electricity distribution firms, this summer’s peak power consumption is expected to be 8,200 MW, according to discom authorities. It’s critical to comprehend the body’s limitations in order to avoid heat-related illnesses and deaths.
Human Body’s Limit at 40 Degrees Celsius
New research from the University of Roehampton in England suggests that when outside temperatures rise above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), the human body may become unable to expel extra heat and cease working as best they may.
The range of temperatures known as the thermoneutral zone is where the body can maintain its optimal core temperature of 37°C (98.6°F) without having to raise its metabolic rate or use more energy.
Research indicates that the lower limit of the zone is 28℃, or 82.4FTrusted Source. The body needs to use more energy below this to stay at its optimal temperature. Shivering, which is the involuntary contraction of major muscle groups to produce heat, is one of the main ways it achieves this.
Perspiration and Increased Heat Loss
Higher temperatures cause the body to use additional cooling techniques, like perspiration and increased heat loss through dilatation of the skin’s surface blood capillaries. The thermoneutral zone’s upper limit is still unknown, despite the fact that its lower range has been determined. According to one study, since humans begin to perspire at 32°C (89.6°F), this may be the highest limit. However, a different study found that at 40°C (104°F), the metabolic rate begins to rise.
