India's capital, New Delhi, recently recorded a soaring temperature of 52.9°C, marking what was thought to be an unprecedented high. However, the Indian government has now clarified that this figure was overstated by 3 degrees Celsius due to a sensor malfunction.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) conducted an investigation into the temperature reading from the weather station at Mungeshpur, a bustling area of Delhi. Earth Sciences Minister Kiren Rijiju announced that the initial reading had a sensor error of 3°C. \"Corrective measures are now in place,\" Rijiju stated, sharing the findings of the draft report on social media platform X.
Despite the correction, the minister did not disclose the new temperature figure for Wednesday’s reading. The IMD released a statement confirming that the maximum temperature reported by the Mungeshpur station was inaccurate because of the sensor's malfunction.
This incident underscores the challenges in accurately monitoring extreme weather events, which are becoming increasingly critical in the face of global climate change. Reliable data is essential for effective response and preparation, especially in densely populated urban areas like Delhi.
Reference(s):
IMD says Delhi's record 52.9°C temperature was wrong by three degrees
cgtn.com
