Excessive Irrigation has led to a Decrease in Monsoon Rainfall in Northern India
28 December 2009 | Green News | 1 Comment
Human actions on the environment and generally all land-use decisions can drastically influence climate change. Recently, a scientist from Purdue University have proved that these actions have affected Indian monsoon rains. His research shows that in the last 50 years monsoon rainfall decreased dramatically in rural areas because irrigation was excessively used to increase agriculture. “In the rural areas, we’re seeing premonsoon greening occurring two weeks earlier than what it did 20 years back as the demand for agricultural intensification to feed India’s people increases”.
“The landscape has also moved in some places from what was once a traditionally rural setting to large urban sprawls. Both of these phenomena have affected monsoon rains.” said Dev Niyogi, professor of agronomy and earth and atmospheric sciences. Dev Niyogi found that in the northwestern region of India rainfall fell with 35-40%. Collecting data from 1,803 recording stations, Niyogi analyzed the problem of rainfall over 50 years (since 1951). Monsoon rainfall for the entire country remained stable over the years, but in the Northern region a 40% reduction in rainfall can have serious consequences.
Studies show that the strength of low pressure necessary for monsoons to progress into northern India was reduced due to irrigation in order to increase agriculture( there was a cooling in the soil due to increased humidity over the past 30 years with 300% ). So, for increasing monsoon it takes heat and reduce soil moisture as Professor Niyogi said. “In this case, you need a warm, dry surface to advance themonsoon…With more irrigation, we will have less monsoon rain. With less monsoon rain, you will need more irrigation, and the cycle will continue”.
Tags: affected monsoon rains, atmospheric, climate change, Environment, excessive irrigation, Indian monsoon rains, indian onsoon rainfall, land-use decisions, premonsoon
Great site. A lot of useful information here. I’m sending it to some friends!