Resource detail

In a research paper published recently, Prof BN Goswami, SERB Distinguished Fellow, Cotton University, Guwahati and former director, The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), SERB, and Dr Shailesh Nayak, Director, National Institute of Advanced Studies, (NIAS), Bengaluru and Distinguished Scientist, Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), stressed on the impact of climate change on the spatial and temporal variability of monsoon rainfall and increase in extreme situations like floods and droughts. They raised concerns over preparedness for these extreme weather conditions and suggested timely interventions for better monitoring and management. In a policy brief, ‘Climate Change and Indian Monsoon: Implications on Water Cycle,’ published by NIAS, the authors cautioned against the increase in temperatures, change in monsoon patterns, decrease in snowfall and its impact on the Indus basin, and rise in extreme weather conditions like last year’s floods in Pakistan. The scientists cautioned against the impact of climate change and the rise in temperature over Central India between 1.5–1.80 degrees Celsius by 2050 and between 2.2–4 degrees Celsius by 2100,  and mean precipitation between 11–13% by 2050 and 15–30% by 2100.