Rainbows, those fleeting arcs of colour that brighten the sky after a storm, may soon become a rarer sight for millions of Indians. A new study warns that as climate change alters rainfall and cloud patterns, the simple childhood joy of spotting a rainbow during the monsoon could fade from city skylines and lowland plains.
The research, published in the journal Global Environmental Change, warns that climate shifts may reduce the number of rainbow-friendly days in several heavily populated regions. Using thousands of crowd-sourced photographs and climate models, scientists found that while colder and mountainous areas such as the Himalayas may experience more rainbows in the future, lowland and urban areas in India could see fewer.
The research, led by scientists who used thousands of crowd-sourced photographs of rainbows, examined how future climate scenarios might affect where and when these optical phenomena occur. Their findings suggest that while colder and mountainous regions such as the Himalayas may see more rainbows, lowland and urban areas in India could experience fewer.
Researchers compiled over 7,000 verified images of rainbows taken worldwide between 2004 and 2013. They trained a computer model to predict rainbow conditions by analyzing sunlight angles, rainfall, and cloud cover. The model was then applied to present-day climate data and future projections for the year 2100 under three different greenhouse gas emission scenarios.
The results showed that the average land location on Earth currently has about 117 days each year with conditions suitable for rainbows. By 2100, that number could rise slightly by 4 to 5 percent globally. But this increase will not be uniform. While 66 to 79 percent of land areas may see more rainbow days, 21 to 34 percent are expected to lose them.
Dr. Christopher B. Anderson, an environmental scientist at the University of Helsinki and one of the study’s co-authors, explained the uneven impact. “Rainbows depend on very specific conditions: rain, sunlight at the right angle, and relatively clear skies. Climate change is altering precipitation patterns and cloud cover, which means some regions will gain opportunities to see rainbows, while others will lose them.”
Impact on India
For India, the study predicts that rainbow sightings may decline in many densely populated regions, especially in the plains and coastal areas where rising temperatures and changing monsoon cycles are expected to disrupt traditional rainfall patterns.
Currently, parts of India can expect around 117 rainbow-friendly days in a year. But by the end of the century, that number could drop in urban areas while rising in higher altitudes such as the Himalayas, where warming may turn snowfall into rainfall, creating more favorable conditions for rainbows.
The study highlights a broader global trend. Regions closer to the poles, such as northern Canada, Scandinavia, and Siberia, are likely to see more rainbows. Meanwhile, tropical regions, parts of Africa, South America, and South Asia could face reductions.
Dr. Kate Marvel, a climate scientist at Columbia University who was not involved in the study, said the findings underscore how climate change affects even subtle aspects of daily life. “We tend to think of climate change in terms of extreme weather or rising seas. This research shows it also touches smaller, cultural experiences, like seeing a rainbow after the rain.”
Rainbows have long carried cultural and emotional meaning in India and elsewhere. They appear in myths, poetry, and art, often as symbols of peace or connection with nature. Losing them, researchers say, is not a trivial matter.
“Rainbows are part of human experience,” said Dr. Anderson. “They don’t directly affect ecosystems or economies, but they contribute to our sense of beauty and wellbeing. Their decline in certain regions is another reminder of what climate change is taking away from us.”
For many, the prospect of fewer rainbows feels personal. Meena Sharma, a school teacher in Bhopal, recalled watching them as a child during monsoon evenings. “We used to run outside after the rain to look for rainbows,” she said. “If my students in the future don’t get to see that often, it will be a loss of something simple but special.”
What Shapes a Rainbow
A rainbow forms when sunlight passes through raindrops, bending and reflecting the light into its spectrum of colors. To appear, it requires rain and sunshine at the same time, with the sun low in the sky and behind the viewer. Thick cloud cover, poor timing of rain, or shifts from rain to snow can all prevent rainbows from forming.
Climate change is expected to make rainfall more irregular. Some regions may face more frequent heavy storms, while others may dry out. Both changes can reduce rainbow opportunities.
The study’s authors note that while total global rainbow days may increase slightly, the uneven distribution matters. Areas gaining more rainbow days, such as the Arctic or Himalayan peaks, are sparsely populated. Meanwhile, losses are projected in heavily populated lowland regions, meaning fewer people overall will see them.
The findings raise questions about how people connect with their environment as it changes. Rainbows, while scientifically simple, carry deep social and cultural meanings. Losing them in daily life may alter how future generations experience nature.
Dr. Anderson said the research aims to highlight overlooked consequences of climate change. “When we talk about climate change, we often focus on disasters and damages. But it’s also about losing access to experiences that have been part of human culture for centuries. Rainbows are one example of that.”
‘A Good Omen’
In rural Kashmir, where mountain valleys already offer frequent rainbow sightings, residents see them as part of daily life. Mushtaq Lone, a farmer from Razan, said, “Rainbows are a sign the rain is ending and the sun is back. We take it as a good omen. If they increase here, it will be welcome, but I feel sad to hear that people in cities may lose them.”
Others see the changes as another reminder of broader climate challenges.
The researchers stress that while rainbows themselves are not central to survival, their changing patterns reflect larger climate shifts. Declining rainbow days in India align with projections of altered monsoons, rising temperatures, and disrupted rainfall cycles.
The study concludes that climate change will reshape not only major systems but also small, intangible experiences tied to nature. For India, that could mean fewer chances to look up after a storm and find a rainbow arching across the sky.
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