Skymet weather

Northwest India witnesses worst Monsoon in last 10 years

AmritsarSouthwest monsoon is now showing signs of withdrawal from Delhi/NCR, hills of North India and some more parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana. In this scenario, there are hardly any chances of recovery for the rain deficit sub-divisions of Punjab; Haryana, Chandigarh & Delhi and West Uttar Pradesh.

While for rest of the country there has been ups and down throughout the season, these three divisions remained deficit. In the beginning of the season cumulative rain deficit was 43%, which reduced to 22% by the end of July and 17%, the next month. On the other hand, the cumulative rain deficit in the three sub-divisions of Northwest India was scanty in the beginning of the season and till date rain deficiency remains highly deficit, exceeding 50%.

Records available with Skymet Meteorology Division in India suggests that the three sub-divisions in consideration have witnessed below normal rain since 2005 barring just once in 2008. In the drought year of 2009, Punjab was deficit by 34%, Haryana 35% and West Uttar Pradesh 43% when the country was deficit by 22%.

In 2007, the country’s LPA was 106 mm of rain, i.e. excess of 6% rains, but these sub-divisions were still deficit by more than 30%.

The table below, showing percentages of rainfall distribution, would substantiate these facts.

Year Punjab Haryana West Uttar Pradesh Country
2013 -2% -22% -1% +6%
2012 -46% -39% -29% -7%
2011 -7% -19% -6% +2%
2010 -7% +21% 0 +2%
2009 -34% -35% -43% -22%
2008 +20% +14% +3% -2%
2007 -32% -33% -39% +6
2006 -13% -39% -43% -1%
2005 -11% +1% -11% -1%

The present scenario is the worst in last 10 years, including the drought year.

Punjab has been one of the worst rainfall deficit sub-divisions in India since the onset of Monsoon. The month of June was 51% deficit, July 59% deficit and August was the worst with a whopping deficit of 75%. At present the deficit stands at 48%. In this state some districts are deficient to the tune of 80%, Barnala is deficit by 81%, Mansa 69%, and Patiala 60%.

In the sub-division of Haryana, Chandigarh & Delhi, rain deficiency is even worse at 55%. Out of 21 districts of the state, 9 are scanty. Fatehabad is deficit by 70%, Sonipat 69%, Kurukshetra 65% and Rohtak 80%.

In West Uttar Pradesh, Agra is 61% deficit, Auraiya 68% and Badaun 65%.

Agriculture affected in Punjab and Haryana

The present dire situation has led to stressed crops, affected yields, increased cost of cultivation and is expected to have a cascading effect for the next season of Rabi crops. Under a clear sky and sunny weather, the irrigated fields dry out fast and thus, increasing the cost of cultivation. The canals and tube wells have been drained out already and state governments have declared drought conditions.

Though these states are well-off in terms of irrigation facilities but nothing can be compared to natural resources and good amounts of rainfall.

 

 

Mangalyaan- India creates history

Mangalyaan (Mars Orbiter Mission -- MOM) (2)_thumb[4] CroppedOn September 24,  2014 India created history as India's first Mars mission made its successful entry into the planet's (Mars) orbit in an epic moment for Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). The main 440 Newton liquid engine along with eight small thrusters was fired successfully by ISRO for 24 minutes to trim the speed of the craft to allow smooth orbit insertion under Mars' shadow. The agencies in the world to successfully enter the Mars orbit are NASA, the European Space Agency and the former USSR. Now ISRO is a new addition to this list.

NASA's Mariner 9 in 1971 was the first successful mission. The Chinese Yinghuo-1 in 2011 was the most recent failure. Out of 51 missions attempted across the world so far, only 21 have succeeded. A little prior to the ISRO mission, On Sept. 21, 2014 NASA's MAVEN spacecraft approached Mars on a mission to study its atmosphere, NASA's Maven spacecraft entered the orbit of Mars for an in depth study of the red planet's atmosphere after undergoing a 442 million-mile journey that began roughly a year ago, since the mission is on similar lines with Mangalyaan of India therefore, exchange of information is on the cards.

The mission to the red planet is divided into two types

1. Orbiter which orbits the planet
2. Lander which lands on the planet

The mission's primary objective is to test India's ability to place a spacecraft in Martian orbit and the technologies required for a future interplanetary mission. The secondary objective of Mangalyaan is to explore the surface of Mars that will comprise of its morphology, mineralogy and its atmosphere. The five solar-powered instruments aboard Mangalyaan will help in gathering data to help determine how the planet’s (Mars) weather systems work and the water which once existed on the planet in large quantities.

The Indian Space Research Organisation or ISRO is now part of an elite group of only three other agencies worldwide to have successfully reached the Red Planet. This golden colored satellite is almost the size of a Nano car. The entire Mars Orbiter Mission cost a record Rs.450 crore or nearly $67 million.

This demonstrates India's technological capabilities and cost effectiveness which is paving the way for faster, cheaper and more durable inter-planetary missions.

 

Good weather expected in Gujarat during Navratri festivities

Garba celebrations in GujaratIndia's western state of Gujarat gets ready to welcome Goddess Durga, as the nine -day-long Navratri festival begins with great fervour and gaiety.  The word Navratri, is derived from the ancient Sanskrit word 'nine nights' and culminates on the tenth day, known as Dussehra, which marks the victory of good over evil.

It is that time of the year, when people of Gujarat gear up to welcome Goddess Durga to their homes. The nine-day-long Navratri festival is celebrated with huge fervour and gaiety to honour goddess and her nine forms.  Scores of Hindu devotees fast, pray and dance to please the mother goddess during Navratri.

The festival is marked with dhol, garba and dandiya, where women and men dressed in vibrant costumes perform the folk dance to celebrate these nine days. The grand celebrations generally start in the evening and extends till late night.

Weather during Navratri

This year, the festivities will commence from 25th September and will continue till the 3rd of October. The festival, this season, does not see any threat from rains unlike last year where Garba grounds were flooded and celebrations were cancelled owing to bad weather conditions.

The Southwest monsoon has commenced its withdrawal and has already phased out of Kutch region. And the present weather conditions are favourable for further withdrawal of monsoon from Saurashtra and Gujarat. According to Skymet Meteorology Division in India, the province will witness dry weather conditions except South Gujarat and adjoining Coastal Gujarat, which might see some light rainfall activity towards this weekend. However, it will majorly remain dry.  Surat, Valsad, Navsari, Bharuch and Bhavnagar are some of the areas of coastal Gujarat, which might witness little precipitation during the beginning of next week.

On account of withdrawal of monsoon and the recent autumnal equinox, entire Gujarat region, particularly Kutch and North Gujarat, will experience second spell of summers lasting for about a fortnight. During this period, day temperatures are expected to rise to mid 30s and might even touch 40 degrees at few places. However, night temperatures will remain comfortable around mid 20s. As per Skymet, people can experience a flavour of chill during late night and early morning hours.

Rain brings relief from heat in Perth, drought in Queensland

425743-storm-rolls-in CroppedThe unseasonal rain in Australia brings rapid change in weather in Perth while it brings relief to drought affected farmers in Queensland.
After a record hot day in Perth on Saturday, the following 24 hours were the wettest in September since 1988.

Change of weather in Perth
Nestled in Western Australia, Perth received rain of 36 mm also cooled temperatures around the western capital, with the maximum only climbing to 22 degrees on Sunday from astounding 34.5 degrees on Saturday.

Relief in Queensland
For 75 percent of Queensland that has been declared drought hit, sudden showers over the weekend were welcomed by the farmers in central and central western areas of the state.

Further ahead, a few sunny days are likely before the next chance for showers in the next couple of days.
Rain during this time had been critically needed to get some pasture growth before winter sets in.

Dry spell to end in west coast

weather-in-south-IndiaEntire September is monsoon month for the west coast unlike other regions where Southwest monsoon begins to retreat. But, there hasn't been any significant rain in the region for almost 5 days.

Thiruvananthapuram, in the last eight days has received only traces of rain, while Ratnagiri has received only 8 mm of rain in the last 4 days. Goa in the last 4 days has recorded 5 mm of rain. The situation in Mumbai isn't better either. In the last 4 days the city has observed 18 mm of rain, while in the last 24 hours the weather has been absolutely dry.

Mangalore is also treading on the same path with only 2.8 mm of rain recorded in the last 4 days. The west coast receives 8 to 10 mm of rainfall on a daily basis but these figures are far below, creating a deficit of 30%-70% on a daily basis. In South India rain has remained subdued for a fortnight now.

Meanwhile, rain is likely to pick up in Tamil Nadu and south coastal Andhra Pradesh from Wednesday onwards. It will then move inland towards north interior Karnataka and later travel up to Mumbai. Dry days are likely to get over and moderate rain is expected in next 48 hours. In fact some areas have received light rain on Tuesday.

Prepare for the cyclone season

cyclone Withdrawal of Southwest monsoon will lead to the onset of Northeast monsoon in the Indian sub-continent. Indian seas become the hot activity centers for cyclones during this period. Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea , both, have historically been the deadliest basin with several cyclones responsible for catastrophic damage. Cyclonic disturbances may originate over the Indian seas or occasionally, the remnant of Pacific Ocean systems could enter Bay of Bengal to become tropical storm later. Though, frequency of storms is more in Bay of Bengal, in comparison to Arabian Sea but severity takes almost equal toll.

High level of heat potential is the basic requirement for development of storms. Few other conditions favourable for formation of cyclonic storm are as given below:

  • Tropical cyclones develop in the vicinity of Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) or near equatorial trough
  • Tropical cyclones develop in maritime airmass over sea areas where Sea Surface Temperature (SST) is more than 26 deg centigrade and overlying tropical atmosphere is convectively unstable

Apart from the strong spiralling winds, torrential rains and high seas, the storm piles up in its forward sector, a huge sheet of sea water, a few meters high which can inundate low lying coastal areas causing large scale death and devastation. This is called the storm surge, which, coupled with strong winds become the most destructive feature associated with the storm. A fully matured cyclone develops a calm center or EYE with a ring of hurricane winds around it. But many cyclones may not develop to this stage.

Tropical cyclones are more complex and difficult to predict. They are notorious for rapid changes in their intensity and track, as well, defying the timelines many a times. Fifteen of the deadliest tropical storms in the world history have been Bay of Bengal storms that have hit Bangladesh, India and Myanmar. They strike the coast and weaken as they move inland because of the cut off of the moisture which is their main source of energy. While the stage is set for the onset of Northeast monsoon over the southern peninsula, disaster mitigation and management agencies need to gear up for any such eventuality.

 

 

Search for breathable air on in smog-choked China

Smog in ChinaSmog in ChinaThe breathable air has become a concern in smog-choked China. According to local media reports, most of the major cities in north-eastern China encountered heavy smog on Monday morning. The visibility in Shenyang was less than 200 metres (656 ft), measured at 0800 hours, local time (0000 GMT) on Monday. This grave situation has forced authorities to shutdown schools and highways for next 48 hours.

According to Skymet Meteorology Division in India, with the winters approaching in China, there will be further rise in smog as people fire up the coal plants, which will further turn the atmosphere into a toxic sauna. China’s first major “airpocalypse” of this winter season is in Shenyang. Last year too, similar situation was observed over Harbin in October, when the visibility had dropped to 10 meters leading to closure of schools and highways.

Severe weather conditions were enough to prompt local officials to close schools and warn millions of residents to stay indoors. These measures were not only taken to prevent hazardous health conditions, but also to avoid any untoward incident due to a poor visibility.

What’s behind the gray-out?

China is known to have the poorest air quality in the world. Officials blame lack of wind and the burning of corn for the harvest, but the fact that central heating started on Sunday was also a key factor. Heating is a big problem in China. As per a study published in May 2013, particulate matter in air on the north of the Huai River is 55% higher than in the south and life expectancy is also 5.5 years shorter. During the 90s alone, smog cost 2.5 billion life years to 500 million residents of northern China.







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