The post-monsoon rainfall from October via November throughout Karnataka this 12 months was the best within the final 50 years. This accentuated the rising considerations that the shifting monsoon patterns being witnessed in recent times is induced by local weather change and, in flip, might have a bearing on agriculture and crop output.
Two years in the past, there was a chronic dry spell throughout the south west monsoon and the reservoirs within the State had solely 4% of their gross storage capability until the top of July. However between August 3 and 10, 2019, the State acquired 224 mm of rainfall and the departure from regular for the interval was the best for greater than 120 years.
Since the previous couple of years, the well timed onset of south west monsoon within the first week of June is adopted by a monsoon-break throughout July. However come August, and there’s a downpour that neutralises the rainfall deficit in a span of per week, leading to lack of life and widespread injury to property.
‘August rains’
Kodagu has been witnessing such a development since the previous couple of years and the area people have come to dread “August rains”, as it’s termed colloquially. This 12 months, the rainfall throughout the south west monsoon – from June via September – noticed a deficit. However post-monsoon rains made up for the shortfall.
In response to the Karnataka State Pure Catastrophe Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC), Karnataka acquired 332 mm of rainfall towards a traditional of 173 mm from October 1 to November 30h this 12 months and the cumulative rainfall for the interval was the best in 5 many years.
Although the post-monsoon rains neutralised the shortfall for the interval June via September and ensured that the reservoirs had been full, they introduced in inheritor wake crop injury and distress to farmers.
“All experiences point out a shift within the monsoon sample and this may occasionally have an effect on the agricultural sample in the long term,” in keeping with N. Narendra Babu, Analysis Affiliate on the Agro Met Area Unit of Indian Meteorological Division at Naganahalli in Mysuru.
A staff of scientists at KSNDMC who analysed the rainfall sample and information from 1960 to 2017, revealed their findings in “Local weather Change State of affairs in Karnataka: A Detailed Parametric Evaluation.” The scientists say that there’s a shift in rainfall sample over Karnataka and the quantum, depth and distribution varies throughout the areas.
Whereas the quantity of annual rainfall and variety of wet days have elevated in south inside Karnataka and Malnad areas, there’s a discount within the quantity of rainfall in Kodagu, Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada districts.
Drought and flood
The findings additionally point out a rise in excessive climate occasions comparable to drought and flood. Throughout the State, there is a rise in annual rainfall in 39 taluks, pre-monsoon rains have elevated in 28 taluks and north east monsoon rains have elevated in 33 taluks.
The research signifies that areas with regular rainfall expertise excessive precipitation occasions and areas are experiencing longer spells of little or no rainfall between two heavy rainfall occasions. Between 2001 and 2019 the State has skilled drought of varied severity for 15 years, in keeping with the KSNDMC research. In 2016, 139 out of 176 taluks within the State had been drought-affected within the Kharif season and 162 taluks within the Rabi season. In 2018, about 100 taluks had been drought affected in Kharif and 156 taluks in Rabi season, underlining the severity of the impression on agriculture.
The rising proof, in keeping with the scientists, requires measures to mitigate the impression of such excessive climate occasions on agriculture which in any other case, might have a bearing on meals, dietary and water safety.
