Increase of Heat Index over Bangladesh: Impact of Climate Change
Heat Index describes the combined effect of
temperature and humidity on human body. This combined effect is
causing a serious threat to the health of people because of the
changing climate. With climate change, climate variability and thus
the occurrence of heat waves is likely to increase. Evidence is
emerging from the analysis of long-term climate records of an
increase in the frequency and duration of extreme temperature events
in all over Bangladesh particularly during summer. Summer season
has prolonged while winters have become short in Bangladesh.
Summers have become hotter and thus affecting the lives of the
people engaged in outdoor activities during scorching sun hours. In
2003 around 62 people died due to heat wave across the country. In
this paper Bangladesh is divided in four regions and heat index has
been calculated from 1960 to 2010 in these regions of the country.
The aim of this paper is to identify the spots most vulnerable to heat
strokes and heat waves due to high heat index. The results show
upward trend of heat index in almost all the regions of Bangladesh.
The highest increase in heat index value has been observed in areas
of South-west region and North-west Region. The highest change in
average heat index has been found in Jessore by almost 5.50C.
[1] Y. Aggarwal, B. M. Karan., B. N. Das., and R. K. Sinha., "Prediction of
Heat-Illness symptoms with the prediction of human vascular response
in hot environment using rescuing condition," J Med Syst, vol. 32, pp.
167-176, 2007.
[2] S. Islam, Banglapedia, National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh, Board of
Editors, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh, Jan 2003.
[3] Q. Z. Chaudhary and G. Rasul., "Agro-Climatic classification of
Pakistan," Science Vision, vol. 9, no. 1-2, Jul-Dec 2003 & no. 3-4 (Jan-
Jun 2004), pp. 59-66.
[4] T. L. Delworth, J. D. Mahlman., and T. R. Knutson, "Changes in heat
index associated with CO2-indused global warming," Kluwer Academic
publishers, Netherland, pp. 369-386, 1999.
[5] L. P. Rothfusz, The heat index equation. Technical attachment,
Scientific Services Division NWS Southern Region Headquarters, Fort
Worth, TX, SR 90-23, 1990.
[6] S. Shahid, "Spatial and temporal characteristics of droughts in the
western part of Bangladesh," Hydrological Processes, vol. 22, issue 13,
Jun 2008, pp. 2235-2247 [First published online in Wiley InterScience,
Nov 2007].
[7] R. G. Steadman, "The assessment of sultriness. Part I: A temperature
humidity index based on human physiology and clothing science,"
Journal of Applied Meteorology, vol. 18, pp. 861- 873, Jul 1979.
[8] R. G. Steadman, "A universal scale of apparent temperature", Journal of
Climate and Applied Meteorology, vol. 23, pp. 1674 - 1687, 1984.
[9] S.C. Sheridan and L.S. Kalkstein, "Health watch/warning systems in
urban areas", World Resource Review, vol. 10, pp. 375-383. 1998.
[1] Y. Aggarwal, B. M. Karan., B. N. Das., and R. K. Sinha., "Prediction of
Heat-Illness symptoms with the prediction of human vascular response
in hot environment using rescuing condition," J Med Syst, vol. 32, pp.
167-176, 2007.
[2] S. Islam, Banglapedia, National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh, Board of
Editors, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh, Jan 2003.
[3] Q. Z. Chaudhary and G. Rasul., "Agro-Climatic classification of
Pakistan," Science Vision, vol. 9, no. 1-2, Jul-Dec 2003 & no. 3-4 (Jan-
Jun 2004), pp. 59-66.
[4] T. L. Delworth, J. D. Mahlman., and T. R. Knutson, "Changes in heat
index associated with CO2-indused global warming," Kluwer Academic
publishers, Netherland, pp. 369-386, 1999.
[5] L. P. Rothfusz, The heat index equation. Technical attachment,
Scientific Services Division NWS Southern Region Headquarters, Fort
Worth, TX, SR 90-23, 1990.
[6] S. Shahid, "Spatial and temporal characteristics of droughts in the
western part of Bangladesh," Hydrological Processes, vol. 22, issue 13,
Jun 2008, pp. 2235-2247 [First published online in Wiley InterScience,
Nov 2007].
[7] R. G. Steadman, "The assessment of sultriness. Part I: A temperature
humidity index based on human physiology and clothing science,"
Journal of Applied Meteorology, vol. 18, pp. 861- 873, Jul 1979.
[8] R. G. Steadman, "A universal scale of apparent temperature", Journal of
Climate and Applied Meteorology, vol. 23, pp. 1674 - 1687, 1984.
[9] S.C. Sheridan and L.S. Kalkstein, "Health watch/warning systems in
urban areas", World Resource Review, vol. 10, pp. 375-383. 1998.
@article{"International Journal of Architectural, Civil and Construction Sciences:63028", author = "Mohammad Adnan Rajib and Md.Rubayet Mortuza and Saranah Selmi and Asif Khan Ankur and Md. Mujibur Rahman", title = "Increase of Heat Index over Bangladesh: Impact of Climate Change", abstract = "Heat Index describes the combined effect of
temperature and humidity on human body. This combined effect is
causing a serious threat to the health of people because of the
changing climate. With climate change, climate variability and thus
the occurrence of heat waves is likely to increase. Evidence is
emerging from the analysis of long-term climate records of an
increase in the frequency and duration of extreme temperature events
in all over Bangladesh particularly during summer. Summer season
has prolonged while winters have become short in Bangladesh.
Summers have become hotter and thus affecting the lives of the
people engaged in outdoor activities during scorching sun hours. In
2003 around 62 people died due to heat wave across the country. In
this paper Bangladesh is divided in four regions and heat index has
been calculated from 1960 to 2010 in these regions of the country.
The aim of this paper is to identify the spots most vulnerable to heat
strokes and heat waves due to high heat index. The results show
upward trend of heat index in almost all the regions of Bangladesh.
The highest increase in heat index value has been observed in areas
of South-west region and North-west Region. The highest change in
average heat index has been found in Jessore by almost 5.50C.", keywords = "Anomaly, Heat index, Relative humidity,
Temperature", volume = "5", number = "10", pages = "498-4", }