Getting the bulletin right

In the PBS documentary, Monsoon, the poet S P Kurada notes, “The wild monsoon winds blow with abandon, swaying everything in their path.

Capturing the monsoons

Drops for the economy

May of 2012 second warmest since 1880: US agency

The month of May this year was 0.66°C (1.19°F) warmer than the 20th century average of 14.8°C (58.6°F). That makes it the second warmest May since 1880, says the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC). The agency, which is a part of the US’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), published its findings in a report, titled State of the Climate: Global Analysis for May 2012.

El Nino may disrupt monsoons

IMD predicts normal monsoon this year

Despite the current spell of fluctuating weather, the monsoons this year would not be affected. This is good news for farmers because 60 per cent of agriculture in the country is rainfed. “India will experience a normal monsoon,” Union minister of earth sciences Vilasrao Deshmuksh announced during a briefing of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on April 26.

Simply unpredictable

IT BEGINS in the spring, when the sun's rays start to warm the Indian subcontinent. And by June 23, the summer solstice, as the longest day is known, earnest Doordarshan newsreaders recite the familiar litany: "Light or isolated heavy showers are likely in some places, in the next 24 hours. Heavy showers accompanied by thunder and lightning are also likely on the west coast.

Letters - December 31, 2011

Cautious Warning It appears that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has tightened its procedures in the hope of preventing errors in terms of the language used in its report (‘Future shock’, November 16-30, 2011).

Monsoon dates to be revised

THE India Meteorological Department (IMD) is set to revise the dates of monsoon onset and withdrawal over the country. Between 1941 and 2000, there has been a shift in monsoon activity, with arrival and withdrawal delayed by seven to 10 days.

Volcanoes’ rainfall twist

MAJOR volcanic eruptions can disrupt rainfall patterns over the Asian monsoon region. A study has shown that big eruptions tend to dry up much of central Asia, but bring more rain to southeast Asian countries like Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar—the opposite of what many climate models predict.

2010: hottest year in India till date