Chennai: Atmospheric disturbances that has been procrastinating the rainfall activity this year in Tamil Nadu is linked to the monstrous global phenomenon: Climate Change. Scientists from reputed institutions have noticed an irregular pattern in the wind direction and storm formation, that are diverting the rainfall to South Asia.
More than three storms that have formed at Bay of Bengal in the past one month, failed to produce rains yet. Reason: Extension of southwest monsoon, due to climatological changes. Explaining the scenario, Dr V. Selvam, director of M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, said, “As the density of oceanic clouds is higher than those from the land, the former moves towards the land, bringing rains. This natural phenomenon was disturbed this year. Rain bearing clouds at the ocean failed to reach the land as moisture clouds were present at the land, courtesy the extension of southwest monsoon.”
Attributing the extended SW monsoon to climate change, Dr Selvam added, “Due to changes in wind circulation, storms that formed in North Bay of Bengal moved towards Bangladesh, instead of West, thus making the regions of Tamil Nadu and South Andhra Pradesh dry.”
Echoing the same, Director of Centre of Climate change and adaptation research, Anna University, Dr. K. Palanivelu said, “Extreme events like excess rainfall and drought are the by-products of climate change. Tamil Nadu will see a five percent shortage of rain in the end of the century, due to climate change.”
Rain, warmer nights ahead for TN
Afreshly formed low-pressure area in Southeast Bay of Bengal is all set to revive the North East Monsoon, as weather experts predict heavy rainfall to Tamil Nadu from Thursday.
The downpour, which would be accompanied by gusty winds, is due to the development of low pressure into a deep depression that is expected to cross the North Tamil Nadu on December 1.
Chennaites can also experience warmer nights from Wednesday, as the low pressure would suppress the dominant high pressure that prevailed in the
state for over twenty days.
Director of Regional Meteorological Centre, S. Balachandran said that the state would receive widespread rainfall for three days commencing from December 1.
Weather blogger, Pradeep John said, “Low pressure has formed on Monday; we are expecting heavy rainfall of around 70mm. We have to watch the models to know if it would get intensified into a cyclonic storm. Gusty winds can be noticed, as the wind speed would be 50-60 kilometres per hour.” Night temperatures, which was hovering around 18 degrees Celsius, would rise to around 21 degrees, he added.
