Global warming behind reduced monsoon activity

The below normal rains this monsoon may be a consequence of Global warming as a new research warned there is a steady increase in temperature of Arabian sea compared to landmass thus weakening the monsoon activity over the country.

The difference between the temperature of sea, which is normally lesser than land, and land-mass around it is known as Temperature Gradient responsible to bring monsoon winds, called westerlies, to India.Researchers from Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology,Pune found that sea temperature is rising at a higher rate than land--meaning crucial temperature difference is narrowing resulting in weakening of rain causing westerlies.

Dr S M Bawiskar who led the study stated that in the long term the reduction in temperature gradient, induced by global warming, will mean monsoon current over Arabian sea would become weak.The decreasing trend is highly significant and in another 150 years or so it may go down to zero.This will lead to reduced rainfall activity over Indian Peninsula. The break like circulation will prevail for a longer period of time which we are already experiencing during this monsoon, he said in an interview.