Atmospheric rivers (ARs) are elongated corridors in the atmosphere that carry substantial quantities of water vapor. These regions can stretch for thousands of kilometers while being less than a thousand kilometers wide, functioning similarly to rivers in the sky. Originating from warm ocean waters, they travel poleward, driven by powerful winds, and play a crucial role in the distribution of heavy rainfall during their landfall.
In India, ARs are significantly correlated with increased intensity and frequency of monsoon rains. This phenomenon results in exceptionally heavy and extremely heavy rainfall across the nation, as indicated by recent reports from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). For example, July 2023 saw an extraordinary number of weather stations reporting extreme rainfall, a trend that persisted into 2024.
Research has established a clear link between ARs and severe weather occurrences in India. A landmark study published in Nature in 2023 found that 70% of major floods in India over the last 35 years were associated with ARs. Additionally, a 2021 study identified a multi-day AR event as the main cause of the historic floods in Kerala in 2018, highlighting the substantial influence of these atmospheric phenomena on regional climates.
The frequency and strength of ARs affecting India have notably risen, with maximum and minimum levels of vertically integrated vapor transport (IVT) exhibiting significant growth since the 1950s. This trend points to not only more frequent but also more intense AR events, leading to increasingly severe weather patterns in the Indian subcontinent, including landslides and flash floods.
Climate scientists from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology have observed that variations in moisture transport towards the Indian subcontinent are becoming more pronounced. These changes result in heavy downpours over brief periods, which directly contribute to the rising incidences of landslides and flash floods throughout India. This evolving comprehension of atmospheric rivers and their implications for India’s climate is vital for devising effective strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of extreme weather and enhance the nation’s resilience to climate change.
Q1. What are atmospheric rivers and how do they form?
Answer: Atmospheric rivers are narrow corridors in the atmosphere that transport water vapor from warm oceans. They form due to strong winds and are crucial for rainfall distribution, especially during monsoon seasons.
Q2. How do atmospheric rivers affect India's monsoon?
Answer: Atmospheric rivers significantly increase both the intensity and frequency of monsoon rains in India, leading to extreme rainfall events and associated flooding.
Q3. What evidence links atmospheric rivers to flooding in India?
Answer: Studies show that a substantial percentage of major floods in India over the past decades are linked to atmospheric rivers, highlighting their critical role in extreme weather events.
Q4. How has the frequency of atmospheric rivers changed over time?
Answer: Since the 1950s, the frequency and intensity of atmospheric rivers affecting India have increased, contributing to more severe weather patterns and events like flash floods.
Q5. What is the impact of climate change on atmospheric rivers?
Answer: Climate change is causing fluctuations in moisture transport towards India, leading to more intense and frequent heavy rainfall, which increases the risk of landslides and flash floods.
Question 1: What are atmospheric rivers primarily responsible for in India?
A) Droughts
B) Extreme rainfall
C) Mild weather
D) Temperature drops
Correct Answer: B
Question 2: Which study reported a significant connection between atmospheric rivers and floods in India?
A) Journal of Climate
B) Nature
C) Science Advances
D) Environmental Research Letters
Correct Answer: B
Question 3: What has increased in India since the 1950s regarding atmospheric rivers?
A) Their frequency and intensity
B) Their length
C) Their width
D) Their origin
Correct Answer: A
Question 4: Which significant weather event is associated with atmospheric rivers in Kerala?
A) Drought in 2021
B) Floods in 2018
C) Heatwaves in 2019
D) Cyclones in 2020
Correct Answer: B
Question 5: What role do climate scientists attribute to atmospheric rivers in relation to climate change?
A) Decreasing rainfall
B) Increasing moisture transport
C) Stabilizing weather patterns
D) Reducing flood risks
Correct Answer: B
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