India’s extreme rainfall ‘corridor’

Source: The post is based on the article “India’s extreme rainfall corridor” published in “The Hindu” on 13th December 2023

Why in the News?

Researchers have discovered a stable “highway” over India where large-scale extreme rainfall events occur simultaneously during monsoons.

What are the Key Findings of the study related to Indian Monsoon?

1) Global warming has affected various aspects of the Indian monsoon leading to a decreasing trend in total seasonal rainfall over several decades.

2) This change has resulted in longer but lower intensity of dry spells, more intense wet spells and alterations in the dynamics of the monsoon.

3) Despite these changing monsoon patterns due to global warming, a stable “highway” exists where extreme rainfall events occur simultaneously. 

4) This highway extends from parts of West Bengal and Odisha to parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan. This corridor has remained unchanged from 1901 to 2019.

What is the significance of this study?

1) Challenges existing beliefs about climate change: This study contradicts the notion that stationary elements no longer exist in climate systems due to global warming. This finding also suggests that the Indian monsoon may be more resilient to climate change than previously thought.

2) Improved understanding of monsoon dynamics: This study can help researchers understand the underlying mechanisms of extreme rainfall and potentially improve forecasting models.

3) Benefit to various sectors: The ability to better predict extreme rainfall events can help mitigate risks in various sectors like agriculture, water management, energy, transportation, and health.

UPSC Syllabus: Environment/ Geography in News