CurrentAffairs : Why has rainfall in India increased in the last 2 years?
As everyone in (parts of) India is aware these days, the monsoon season from June- September, has become the season for destruction in India. This used to be the season which was keenly awaited by farmers ( a bulk of Indian agriculture still depends on this seasonal rain, rather than other forms of 'man managed' water supply), people working in the downstream agro-economy chain, stock market punters (Indian economy is still pre-dominantly agricultural in its form and content) and last but not the least the rest of the general populace. After the second consecutive year of record rainfall, floods over large parts of the country, dis-placement of hundreds of thousands, destruction of agriculture by the same rain that was supposed to foster it, has led people to wonder whether a new pattern of weather has started in India- a pattern where its hotter than normal, during March- June (peak Indian summer), and wetter than usual from July to September.
Many theories abound and no one seems to agree as to what's leading to this seeming change in the weather pattern and in fact whether this is really a change at all !
Some researchers believe that the variation in temperatures or rainfall might seem large, if seen over a period of last few years, but if seen in the context of the last 100 or so years or recorded data, this change is not so significant.
Others contend that we have a serious problem at our hands. Predictably, most of them lay the blame squarely on a beast called 'Global warming'. Get the full dope of Global warning on Wikipedia here. Another excellent FAQ on the topic can be found here. Check out the global climate hot map for Asia here.
It is not without reason that researchers have divided opinions. While some debate the issue due to pure scientific reasons- there are many others who are merely pawns in the global political games played on the issue. The developed countries, who are the most responsible to add to the 'greenhouse effect', are reluctant to cut down on their emissions according to the mandated targets of the Kyoto Protocol. Fast growing Developing nations (India,China, Brazil) are unwilling to cut down on their emissions, since they believe (rightly) that the bulk of the responsibility lies with the developed nations. The least developed countries have no voice and will only have to suffer the impact of the problem, while not having any say in the decision making process. It is scientific lobbies and research institutes promoted by these governments and/or NGO's, ascribing to a particular econo-political school of thought, and which have vested interests to promote that often end of up using hijacking the agenda, of what otherwise should have been a scientific problem.
But, of course, science is too important to be left in the hands of scientists alone!
If you have any answers to the question above (Why rainfall in india has increased in last 2 years?), you can post your answer here. The question, asked by one Abhinav B, on YAHOO! Answers, is a very pertinent one, but has not received any bright answer so far. Maybe you can change that.
You can skip to the end and leave a response.
Many theories abound and no one seems to agree as to what's leading to this seeming change in the weather pattern and in fact whether this is really a change at all !
Some researchers believe that the variation in temperatures or rainfall might seem large, if seen over a period of last few years, but if seen in the context of the last 100 or so years or recorded data, this change is not so significant.
Others contend that we have a serious problem at our hands. Predictably, most of them lay the blame squarely on a beast called 'Global warming'. Get the full dope of Global warning on Wikipedia here. Another excellent FAQ on the topic can be found here. Check out the global climate hot map for Asia here.
It is not without reason that researchers have divided opinions. While some debate the issue due to pure scientific reasons- there are many others who are merely pawns in the global political games played on the issue. The developed countries, who are the most responsible to add to the 'greenhouse effect', are reluctant to cut down on their emissions according to the mandated targets of the Kyoto Protocol. Fast growing Developing nations (India,China, Brazil) are unwilling to cut down on their emissions, since they believe (rightly) that the bulk of the responsibility lies with the developed nations. The least developed countries have no voice and will only have to suffer the impact of the problem, while not having any say in the decision making process. It is scientific lobbies and research institutes promoted by these governments and/or NGO's, ascribing to a particular econo-political school of thought, and which have vested interests to promote that often end of up using hijacking the agenda, of what otherwise should have been a scientific problem.
But, of course, science is too important to be left in the hands of scientists alone!
If you have any answers to the question above (Why rainfall in india has increased in last 2 years?), you can post your answer here. The question, asked by one Abhinav B, on YAHOO! Answers, is a very pertinent one, but has not received any bright answer so far. Maybe you can change that.
