A study has found that deep convective clouds during India’s summer monsoon season have risen by about one kilometer over the last two decades, resulting in more extreme weather events. The research, conducted by a team from Cusat, EUMETSAT, and the UK Met Office, indicates that increased cloud heights correlate with intensified rainfall and flooding, particularly in northwestern and coastal regions of India. This study sheds light on the crucial changes in monsoon dynamics, drawing attention to significant environmental shifts.
Recent research reveals that the heights of deep convective clouds during the Indian summer monsoon have increased by approximately one kilometer over the last twenty years. This elevation has been linked to the triggering of more extreme weather events across the region. Conducted by experts from Cochin University of Science and Technology, the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites, and the UK Met Office, the findings are detailed in the study titled ‘Observational Evidence of Increasing Intensity and Frequency of Deep Convective Clouds during the Indian Summer Monsoon Season,’ published in the esteemed Geophysical Research Letters journal.
The analysis utilized satellite observations collected between 2000 and 2020. It indicated that the top sections of deep convective clouds have noticeably risen, corresponding with heightened convective activity. Such intensification is associated with a greater likelihood of extreme rainfall events during India’s monsoon season.
The study highlights a significant rise in deep convective cloud heights, emphasizing the consequent increase in extreme weather phenomena, including intense rainfall and flooding. Notably, this phenomenon is particularly impactful in northwestern India and along the country’s coasts, suggesting a growing correlation between climate change and monsoon dynamics. The findings underscore the importance of ongoing research in understanding weather patterns in India. Overall, this research calls for attention to the implications of altered cloud dynamics on traditional monsoon behaviors, which are crucial for the region’s agriculture and water supply.
Original Source: www.thehindu.com
