Why in news
- Meteorological forecasts indicate concentrated late-season rainfall over East and Central India during the southwest monsoon withdrawal phase.
- Climate models indicate strong multi-year El Niño conditions persisting in the equatorial Pacific Ocean.
Key terms
Periodic warming of central and eastern equatorial Pacific waters that alters global atmospheric circulation.
Process where south-westerly winds retreat from northern India, replaced by north-easterly continental air masses.
East-west tropical atmospheric circulation cell driven by ocean temperature gradients across the Pacific.
El Niño-Southern Oscillation, a coupled ocean-atmosphere climate phenomenon involving sea temperature and air pressure shifts.
What is the spatial pattern of late-monsoon rain?
- As the southwest monsoon begins its retreat from Northwest India, precipitation systems shift eastwards and centralwards across the subcontinent.
- Convective activity during the withdrawal phase often brings localized heavy rainfall events to East-Central river basins.
El Niño persistence and atmospheric mechanism
- El Niño involves anomalous warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.
- Extended multi-year El Niño phases weaken atmospheric Walker circulation, disrupting normal tropical monsoon precipitation cycles across South Asia.
Why it matters
- Extended Pacific warm events increase risk of inter-annual rainfall variability and agricultural water stress across rainfed farming zones.
- Understanding monsoon withdrawal dynamics is crucial for reservoir management and Rabi crop planning.
Prelims facts
- El Niño typically results in weakened Indian southwest monsoon rainfall due to suppressed convection over South Asia.
- Monsoon withdrawal begins traditionally from northwest India in September as continental high pressure builds.
Mains discussion
- Impact of persistent multi-year ENSO anomalies on Indian climate resilience and agricultural production.
- Adaptation strategies required for rainfed agriculture under heightened monsoon variability.
Source: Economic Times India
Same topic · past papers
UPSC has asked this before
These previous-year questions sit on the same topic. Open one to practise the earlier ask.
-
2022 · Q33 · General Studies · 2 marks
With reference to "Software as a Service (SaaS)", consider the following statements: 1. SaaS buyers can customise the user interface and can change data fields. 2. SaaS users can access their data through their mobile devices. 3. Outlook, Hotmail and Yahoo! Mail are forms of SaaS. Which of the statements given above are correct? -
2021 · Q15 · GS I · 15 marks
How do the melting of the Arctic ice and glaciers of the Antarctic differently affect the weather patterns and human activities on the Earth? Explain. -
2018 · Q14 · GS III · 15 marks
How has the emphasis on certain crops brought about changes in cropping patterns in recent past? Elaborate the emphasis on millets production and consumption. (250 Words, 15 Marks). -
2026 · Q33 · General Studies · 2 marks
With reference to the climate of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. The climate can be defined as a humid, tropical coastal climate. 2. It receives rainfall from both South-west monsoon and North-east monsoon. 3. Maximum precipitation is between December and May. Select the answer using the code given below: -
2024 · Q13 · General Studies · 2 marks
Consider the following description : 1. Annual and daily range of temperatures is low. 2. Precipitation occurs throughout the year. 3. Precipitation varies between 50 cm - 250 cm. What is this type of climate ?