Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh in the Lok Sabha today said that the El Niño’s effects on India’s monsoon and rainfall patterns. Responding to a question, the Minister shared findings from ongoing Ministry studies on monsoons and related weather phenomena.
El Niño, a climate phenomenon with unusually warm sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, is generally associated with weaker Indian summer monsoons. However, its impact varies depending on the event’s intensity. Since 1950, India has experienced 16 El Niño years, but only seven had below-normal monsoon rainfall.
Interestingly, the Ministry’s studies highlight a stronger inverse relationship between El Niño and rainfall during the latter half of the monsoon season, particularly in September.
La Niña, the cooler counterpart of El Niño, impacts India’s weather patterns. Typically, La Niña years bring normal to above-normal rainfall during the southwest monsoon, benefiting most of the country. However, extreme north and northeastern regions might experience below-normal rainfall. Additionally, La Niña years often have below-average winter temperatures.
Dr. Singh confirmed that the India Meteorological Department (IMD) studies the impact of El Niño and La Niña on India’s weather patterns to understand their influence on the monsoon, which is crucial for the country’s agriculture and water resources.
While El Niño is linked to weaker monsoons, its effects aren’t uniform. Dr. Singh emphasized the need for ongoing research to predict better and mitigate the impacts of climate phenomena on India’s diverse weather patterns.
The findings reinforce the need for robust climate monitoring systems and adaptive strategies to manage the effects of global weather patterns on India’s monsoon-dependent economy.
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