• Have instances of extreme weather conditions increased over the last few years?

There were 26 “major flood disasters” worldwide in the 1990s, compared to 18 in the 1980s, eight in the 1970s, seven in the 1960s and 6 in the 1950s.

As per a recent study by U.S. scientists, the proportion of tropical cyclones reaching categories 4 or 5 has risen from 20% in the 1970s to 35% in the 1990s over the globe.

In the last 50 years, cold days, cold nights and frost have become less frequent, while hot days, hot nights, and heat waves have become more frequent.

In India, an increasing trend has been observed in monsoon rainfall in the west coast, north-western region and northern Andhra Pradesh.

Certain pockets in central India have experienced increase in heavy precipitation and decrease in number of rainy days.

• What are the main instances of extreme weather conditions in the last few years?

2002: Drought in India. July is generally the wettest month of the year but in 2002 it turned to be the driest in recorded history since 1877.

2003: UK records its highest ever temperature. France has the warmest summer on record. Temperatures in Russia dip as low as -450C. Moscow receives rainfall in June for the first time since 1963.

2004: Severe drought condition in western U.S. Long term drought across Africa. Excessive rains in Brazil and United Kingdom.

2005: 14 hurricanes in U.S., two more than previous record in 1969. Snowfall in UAE in January. Mumbai gets 94.4 cm rain in just eight hours on July 26.

... contd.