Delhi roads are burning at 65°C. So, why do weather apps show just 42°C? A ground report from Delhi's Nand Nagri area revealed that road and vehicle surfaces can reach 65°C under direct sunlight, while weather apps display only 42°C for the same location. The extreme heat has turned daily life into a challenge for residents, with temperatures in the national capital and parts of North India hovering between 40°C and 45°C. However, the discrepancy between actual surface temperatures and the readings provided by weather apps highlights a critical gap in how heat is measured and perceived. Using tools like thermal cameras and handheld temperature meters, researchers in Nand Nagri documented that surfaces such as asphalt and parked vehicles can exceed 65°C when exposed to sunlight. Thermal cameras detect infrared radiation, converting it into color-coded visuals where hotter surfaces appear red or white. In contrast, shaded areas under trees recorded temperatures around 40°C, creating a stark 20°C difference. This gap poses significant risks, as unprotected skin can suffer burns within seconds at 65°C. Children playing barefoot on such surfaces are particularly vulnerable. The team also measured air temperatures with a handheld thermometer, finding that direct sunlight registered 48°C, while weather apps showed 42°C for the same location. This discrepancy arises because official weather stations typically record temperatures in the shade at a standardized height of 1.2 meters, away from heat-absorbing surfaces. In contrast, urban environments with concrete, metal, and vehicle exhaust create conditions where actual temperatures feel much higher. Trees, however, mitigate this by cooling the air through evapotranspiration, a process similar to sweating, and by blocking direct sunlight.#climate_change #delhi #nand_nagri #arshi #urban_heat_island
