India's Climate and Weather Trends | 04 May 2023

For Prelims: EL Nino, Southwest Monsoon Season, Heatwaves.

For Mains: El Nino on India's monsoon season, role of climate change in the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in India.

Why in News?

Although India has received some rain recently, experts predict that the year 2023 will be hotter and drier.

  • The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted a normal monsoon, but the development of El Nino could lead to a reduction in monsoon rainfall.
  • Additionally, the IMD has released data on fatalities caused by extreme weather events, marking the first time they have done so.

What is the Current Situation in India?

  • Uneven Rainfall Distribution:
    • Despite the recent showers, the entire country has received ample rainfall, except for the northeastern states, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.
    • Some areas in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh have experienced up to 15 times more rainfall than expected due to various local weather phenomena.
  • El Nino and Global Warming:
    • The IMD has predicted normal monsoon, but the development of El Nino could suppress rainfall over India.
    • Globally, 2023 is expected to be one of the top four warmest years on record due to the rapid development of the El Nino event, which has an overall warming impact on the planet.
  • India's Warming Trend:
    • India's warming trend is slightly lower than the global average, with the year 2022 being 1.15 degree Celsius warmer than pre-industrial times.
    • The warming over India is not uniform across regions. Some states like Himachal Pradesh, Goa, and Kerala have become much hotter than others, while eastern states such as Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odisha have experienced the least warming.
    • Sea surface temperatures in the tropical Indian Ocean have risen by almost one degree Celsius between 1950 and 2015.

What do the Climate Models Say About the Impact of Upcoming El Nino?

  • Weak Monsoon for India: The development of an El Nino in May or June 2023 may cause a weakening of the southwest monsoon season, which brings around 70% of the total rainfall India receives and on which most of its farmers still depend.
    • However, sub-seasonal factors such as the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) and monsoon low-pressure systems can temporarily enhance rainfall in some parts as witnessed in the year 2015.
  • Hot Temperatures: It may also cause heatwaves and droughts in India and other regions around the world such as South Africa, Australia, Indonesia and the Pacific Islands.
  • Heavier Rainfall in the West: It brings heavy rainfall and flooding to other regions such as California in the United States and could cause bleaching and death of coral reefs.
  • Rising Global Average Temp:
    • The El Nino in 2023 and going into 2024 may push the global average temperature towards 1.5°C warmer than the preindustrial average.
    • The warming of the oceans is also one of the major impacts of an El Nino event.

Which Weather Event Causes the Most Fatalities?

  • Lightning strikes caused more deaths than any other weather event in India.
    • In 2022, lightning strikes were responsible for 60% of weather event-related deaths in India (1,608 out of 2,657 recorded deaths).
  • Floods and extreme rainfall events claimed 937 lives.
  • The actual number of casualties could be higher, as IMD and state governments relied on media reports to compile the list.

What are India's Climate Change Mitigation Initiatives?

UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Prelims

Q. With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)’ sometimes mentioned in the news while forecasting Indian monsoon, which of the following statements is/are correct? (2017)

  1. IOD phenomenon is characterised by a difference in sea surface temperature between tropical Western Indian Ocean and tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean.
  2. An IOD phenomenon can influence an El Nino’s impact on the monsoon.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: (b)


Mains

Q. ‘Climate change’ is a global problem. How India will be affected by climate change? How Himalayan and coastal states of India will be affected by climate change? (2017).

Source: IE


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