Gains from rains: on monsoon performance

Monsoon Performance so far:

• Came at the textbook date of June1.
• Record pace in covering the country.
• More rainy days in June. IMD data suggests 14% more rainfall compared to long-term average.
• Fairly even distribution across the India.
• Except for northwest India, which is staring at a 3% deficit, the rainfall in east, south and central India has posted surpluses of 13%-20%.

Significance:

• High coverage of the Kharif Crop.
• Enhanced water level in the big reservoir, which will ensure good irrigation facility along with supply of drinking water.
• Maintain of good supply of the food crop leading to check in food inflation.
• In Covid 19, agriculture has been the sunshine. Good Monsoon will keep the agriculture growth in progress.
• Migrants returned to their villages will get job opportunities at farmlands.
• Good Monsoon will enhance the rural purchasing power leading to overall growth of the economy.

Concern:

• June accounts only for the 17% of rain while, July and August accounts for 2/3^rd of the rainfall. Monsoon should not get weak during this time.
• In the coming months, break in monsoon is also observed, which leads to absence of rainfall.

Terms related to Monsoon:

Monsoon:

• Seasonal winds which changes their direction as per reversal in the seasons.
• Periodic winds

Two types of Monsoon:

• South West Monsoon : In Summer: Majority of Rainfall
• North East Monsoon: In Winter: Mainly on the Coast of Chennai

Onset of Monsoon:

• Arrival of Monsoon
• Generally on June 1 at the coast of Kerala.

Break in Monsoon:

• Period of no rainfall.
• Happens due to parallel flow of winds to the mountains or Northward shift of the ITCZ.

Monsoon burst:

• Onset of the Monsoon along with the thunder and lightening.

Reference: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/gains-from-rains/article32071933.ece