The danger of climate change is no longer something that will happen in the far-off future. It exists now, in front of our own eyes. As severe weather becomes the norm, it is imperative that we move quickly to lessen the disaster that will inevitably result. The recent monsoon fury in India is a somber reminder of the effects of climate change on our daily lives, with its record-breaking rains, flash floods, and landslides.
Scientists have been sounding the alarm for years, and the time has come when their warnings can no longer be ignored. As a result of global warming, temperatures will continue to rise, precipitation will become more unpredictable, and severe weather will occur more often. The ecological system is collapsing before our eyes, and we must do something about it. Heavy precipitation at the moment is being blamed on a number of variables by meteorologists and climate experts. These include a confluence of weather systems and a shift in monsoon patterns.
The varying rainfall patterns
- Low pressure and depression have been seen moving south of their location and flash floods have occurred, suggesting a change in the path of monsoon systems.
- The original meaning of the term “monsoon depression” referred to a summertime low-pressure system that formed in the North Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal. The diameter of a closed isobar may be as much as a thousand kilometers, thus it covers a sizable region.
- It rained more than usual in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and certain areas of Maharashtra in 2022, contrary to the situation in West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Bihar.
- Two consecutive depressions formed in the Bay of Bengal in August 2022 and made their way through central India.
- While summer monsoon precipitation varies from year to year, there has been a lot of variation in 2022 in terms of both location and time.
The Whys:
- Pre-monsoon heating over the Himalayan area and melting glaciers
- Persistence of extreme La Nina conditions
- Abnormal warming of the East Indian Ocean
- Negative Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)
- Southward shift of most monsoon depressions and lows.
- The Arabian Sea (western Indian Ocean) and the eastern Indian Ocean (south of Indonesia) have distinct sea surface temperature differences, which characterize the IOD as a dipole.
- The IOD is a major factor in rainfall variability in the area around the Indian Ocean Basin, including Australia.
The Consequences
Kharif Harvests:
Changing the path of monsoon systems has a significant effect on rice output and other Kharif crops. They account for more than half of the world’s food grain output at this time.
- The drop in Kharif production may maintain high rice prices.
- Despite a vigorous monsoon current in July and August, Bihar, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh—which together account for a third of the country’s total rice production—have been extremely deficient.
High-Quality Cereals:
- The nutritional content and quality of the grain may vary depending on how evenly the rains fell.
- Extreme heat (> 35°C) induces heat stress and affects plant physiological processes, resulting in sterility, non-viable pollen, and decreased grain quality, as reported in the research titled “Climate change, the monsoon, and rice yield in India.”
Safety of food supply:
In the second half of the twentieth century, India had a decrease in frequency but an increase in the intensity of monsoon rains.
- Scientists and food experts agree that more favorable precipitation conditions would have increased crop yields.
- However, these extraordinary shifts are having a severe impact on India’s hundreds of millions of rice growers and consumers, creating worries about food security.
The Way Forward
To attain dependability and sustainability, India must increase its investment in improving Monsoon forecasting.
- As the world’s average temperature rises, more moisture will be stored in the sky, resulting in greater rainfall, which will enhance the inter-annual variability of the monsoon in the years to come.There must be nationwide preparation for this shift.
- To secure and bring sustainability to India’s climate pattern, we must take effective and timely steps on both the domestic (National Action Plan on Climate Change) and international (UN Framework Convention on Climate Change) fronts. This is because we all share a common world and a common destiny.
Conclusion
We must take immediate action to mitigate the effects of climate change. We can no longer afford to take a relaxed approach. The shift to a sustainable and ecologically friendly way of life requires efforts on the part of individuals and communities alike. Greenhouse gas emissions must be lowered, renewable energy sources should be embraced, water should be conserved, and sustainable urban planning should be a top priority.
The world is beginning to feel the effects of climate change, but time is running out to stop it from causing even more destruction. We have a responsibility to the next generation to ensure that they inherit a healthy and prosperous world. Now is the time to act, to take ownership of our activities, and to choose a way of life that is sustainable and respectful to nature.
We must act immediately. If we work together, we can lessen global warming’s consequences and secure a bright future for ourselves and future generations. Let us not sit around and hope that something bad happens. Let’s take action now so that tomorrow is better.
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