UPSC MAINS HANDOUT

GEOGRAPHY & ENVIRONMENT

By Sudarshan Gurjar

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Changing Monsoon Patterns in Peninsular India

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UPSC MAINS HANDOUTS GEOGRAPHY & ENVIRONMENT By Sudarshan Gurjar

 Changing Monsoon Patterns in Peninsular India
Introduction:

● Monsoon is a seasonal change in the direction of the prevailing, or strongest, winds of a region.
They cause wet and dry seasons throughout much of the tropics. Monsoons are most often
associated with the Indian Ocean.
● Monsoon patterns in Peninsular India have been undergoing significant changes due to a variety of

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factors.

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● These changes, ranging from alterations in the timing of monsoon arrival and withdrawal to
variations in rainfall distribution, have substantial implications for the region's climate, agriculture,
and overall ecological balance.

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Causes of Changing Monsoon Patterns:

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Cause Key Details
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Changing Climate and ● Global Warming - warmer climate has a greater capacity to hold
Anthropogenic Activities water. When finally released it results in heavier downpour.
● “Brown cloud” formed over Indian ocean because of Aerosols
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absorbs solar radiation. Result - Cooling of land + reduction in

contrast of temperature between land & sea thereby weakening the
atmospheric circulation sustaining Monsoons.
● Changes in land use also affect regional climates.
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● Decrease in forest cover in Asia in last 15 decades is significant.

● Excessive use of water for irrigation causes negative impact on the
moisture of the soil thereby diminishing its capability to reflect or
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absorb heat.
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Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) La Niña conditions over the equatorial Pacific Ocean and neutral IOD
conditions over the Indian Ocean. Favorable MJO location led to higher than
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Arctic Sea-Ice Loss
La Niña + Abnormal warming of
East Indian Ocean + Negative
Indian Ocean Dipole
usual rainfall
Loss led to high sea-level pressure over western Europe and northeastern
China, steering planetary waves southeastward and delaying monsoon
● Characterized by cooler than average sea surface temperatures over
the eastern and central Pacific Ocean, affects trade winds and
triggers formation of low-pressure areas leading to increased rainfall
in India.

UPSC MAINS HANDOUTS GEOGRAPHY & ENVIRONMENT By Sudarshan Gurjar

 ● India is seeing an extended spell of the La Nina, called a ‘triple dip’
La Nina which is a phenomenon lasting across three winter seasons
in the northern hemisphere.
● A positive IOD occurs when the sea surface temperatures are greater
than normal in the Arabian Sea and less than normal in the tropical
eastern Indian Ocean. When the reverse is the case, a negative IOD is
said to have developed.
Positive IOD = greater monsoon rainfall, more monsoon days

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Negative IOD = less rain, more monsoon breaks

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Consequence of Changing Monsoon Patterns in Peninsular India:

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● Weakened Monsoon circulation across India.
● Increase in localized heavy rainfall and longer dry spells.
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During October & November, country has received 53% more rainfall, particularly in the
peninsular region.
Cyclone Jawad, a tropical cyclone made landfall in Odisha during winters of 2021, was
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the first time after 130 years.

● It can affect crop production and yield, potentially leading to food insecurity.
Study - ‘Climate change, the monsoon, and rice yield in India’ : very high temperatures
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(> 35°C) induce heat stress and affect plant physiological processes, leading to spikelet
sterility, non-viable pollen and reduced grain quality.
● Variations in monsoon can affect the availability of fresh water, impacting water security. Recharge
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of dams and reservoirs also gets affected if monsoons spill over into October.
● Altered monsoon patterns can affect the ecosystems and biodiversity of the region.
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● Increased instances of heavy rainfall can lead to more frequent and severe flooding and landslides.
December is usually the end of North East Monsoons but most parts pof Kerela reported
flash floods, landslides, mudslides, etc.
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(Connecting water security point to the same, in 2021 the same state of Kerala was
experiencing water scarcity due to scanty rains brought by South West Monsoons)
● Changes in monsoon patterns can have substantial economic implications, particularly for sectors
like agriculture, fishing, and energy production, which are heavily dependent on predictable
weather patterns

UPSC MAINS HANDOUTS GEOGRAPHY & ENVIRONMENT By Sudarshan Gurjar

Q. Discuss the causes and consequences behind the changing patterns of monsoons in
Peninsular India. How are these changes impacting the agricultural, economic and
overall ecological balance of the region?

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UPSC MAINS HANDOUTS GEOGRAPHY & ENVIRONMENT By Sudarshan Gurjar