Heatwave research in India: understanding current status, trends and future directions

Abstract

Research on natural hazards such as heatwaves has increased in recent decades due to their impact on human life, with the majority of publications occurring after the 2010 deadly heatwave. Based on the Web of Science database, we statistically analyze the research trends, collaborating countries, and institutions using a systematic method of bibliometric analysis. The study reveals the temporal publication trends, co-authorship networks, citation patterns, and keyword evolution in this rapidly growing field. The results highlight the significant contributions of Indian researchers and institutions to the global understanding of heatwaves, as well as the strong international collaborations fostering this research. India has the highest level of cooperation with other countries, whereas the USA ranks second. Despite the rise in heatwave-related deaths, the medical and public health institutions could not make in the top 10 contributors, indicating a gap between health impact and research priority. These findings underscore the need for interdisciplinary research on heatwaves, particularly on region-specific heatwave plans and strengthening collaboration between institutions. We also analyze the temporal keyword trend in three time periods, highlighting the differences and similarities in keywords employed in heatwave research. We found that 'temperature', 'heat waves', 'impact', and 'variability' have the highest occurrence. In the last three decades, the trends have shifted from the broad term of 'climate change' to the use of specific technical keywords such as 'land surface temperature', 'interannual variability', and 'CMIP6'. Furthermore, the paper identifies key research priorities and knowledge gaps, such as the need to focus on adaptation strategies, social vulnerability, and regional impacts. These are critical for developing effective heatwave management policies in India to achieve SDG targets and heatwave resilience.