| Introduction: Give a brief description of EL Nino & La Nina Body: Highlight the role of such events on monsoon and air quality in India Conclusion: Way forward |
El Niño and La Niña event frequency and intensity are significantly influenced by climate change. Changes in sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean are the hallmarks of El Niño and La Niña, two natural climate events that influence worldwide weather patterns. A new study by Indian researchers has now suggested that even air quality in the country could be influenced by the two weather events.
Role of climate change in exacerbating frequency and severity of ENSO
- Impact of Climate Change on El Niño and La Niña: Climate change can intensify El Niño events by warming ocean temperatures. Warmer ocean temperatures can lead to more frequent and intense El Niño events, as warmer waters provide more energy for atmospheric disturbances. Similarly, La Niña events can also be influenced by climate change. Although La Niña events are characterized by cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific, climate change can still impact their frequency and severity through complex interactions within the climate system.
Influence on monsoon and air quality
- Monsoon patterns: El Niño typically weakens the Indian monsoon, leading to droughts, while La Niña strengthens it, causing floods. If ENSO events become more extreme, India could experience more erratic and intense monsoon seasons, impacting agriculture, water resources, and livelihoods.
- Air quality: A recent study by Indian researchers linked the 2022-23 “triple-dip” La Niña to contrasting air quality changes in different regions. La Niña weakened winter westerlies, reducing air pollution in North India, while peninsular cities saw increased pollution due to reduced rainfall and dispersion. This highlights the complex and geographically varied effects of ENSO on air quality. The recent anomaly in the rise of pollutants in Western India was on account of wind circulation in the north-south direction. The pollutants being carried from Punjab and Haryana bypassed Delhi and surrounding areas and flew over Rajasthan and Gujarat to southern regions.
Conclusion
The precise impact of climate change on ENSO is still being studied, but India could face serious difficulties if these events become more frequent and intense. To design adaptation and mitigation measures for monsoons, air quality, and related environmental challenges, it is imperative to comprehend these intricacies and their localized implications.
