India, April 17 -- A recent study published in the journal Climate Dynamics has offered the clearest explanation yet of how the threat of moist heat, a combination of high temperature and high humidity that interferes with the body's ability to cool itself, is unfolding across India, especially Kerala.

Led by Akshay Deoras at the University of Reading in the UK, the research draws on more than 80 years of weather data to show how the southwest monsoon itself governs the timing and geography of moist heatwaves.

"Our research shows for the first time that the monsoon is the key driver of where and when this deadly risk develops," Deoras said. "Because we can forecast these monsoon patterns weeks ahead, this creates real opportunities to p...