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New Delhi, Oct 17 (IANS) The recently concluded southwest monsoon received ‘above normal’ rainfall, up to 108 per cent of the long period average. Experts said on Friday that this is the second consecutive year in the last decade when more than normal rainfall has been recorded.
In the last 10 years, since 2016, five years have recorded above normal rainfall, two years have recorded normal rainfall and three years have recorded below normal rainfall. According to experts, climate change has an important role in increasing rainfall to higher levels.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) classifies rainfall as ‘normal’ when the actual monsoon is between 96-104 per cent of the long period average, while rainfall above 104 per cent is classified as ‘above normal’. However, increased rainfall variability dominated the four-month long season.
Out of 36 meteorological sub-divisions of the country, normal rainfall was recorded in 19 sub-divisions, which is 46 percent of the country’s area. Twelve subdivisions recorded excessive rainfall, covering 35 per cent of the country’s area, and two subdivisions recorded very high rainfall, covering 10 per cent of the total area.
Nine per cent of the area saw deficient rainfall in only three sub-divisions. This season, 328 of India’s 727 districts recorded normal rainfall, 186 received excess rainfall, and 67 experienced excess rainfall, while 134 faced deficit and another 67 witnessed severe deficit.
According to meteorologists, it is clear from the rainfall data in the last few years that most of the rainfall occurs in the form of heavy rainfall. The data shown below shows that most of the rainfall over the last 12 years has seen an increasing trend.
Former IMD Director General KJ Ramesh said, “The monsoon season is no longer the same. The last 10 years have recorded normal to above normal rainfall, with the latter being more prominent. The amplification and intensity of the monsoon is directly linked to global warming. Global warming has now become the biggest driver of the monsoon.”
Ramesh said, “In the era of global warming, the effect of El Nino and La Nina is decreasing. The number of rainy days has reduced, but the amount of rainfall has increased. There has been a significant change in the daily amount of rainfall.”
Mahesh Palawat, vice president (meteorology and climate change), Skymet Weather, said there has been a drastic change in the behavior patterns of monsoon systems, which has also led to changes in rainfall patterns.
“We now see low pressure areas spending a greater number of days than their average duration over land, and that too maintaining their strength. This is mainly due to the increased and sustained moisture feed over land. Not only has the incidence of extreme rainfall events increased, but also conditions like cloud bursts have increased. This was not the case earlier,” he explained.
–IANS
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