Spectrum analysis and prediction possibilities of the onset dates of southwest monsoon over Kerala (India)

Abstract

Maximum Entropy Spectral Analysis of the time series for the onset dates of the southwest monsoon over Kerala (India) revealed several periodicities significant at a 2a a priori level. some at a 3 C a  priori level However these contributed only 40-50% to the total variance thus indicating 50-60% as purely random component. Also many of the significant periodicities observed were in the QBO region (T = 2-3 years) which. due to their variable periodicities and amplitudes, are almost equivalent to a random component. Hence predictions were possible only with a  limit exceeding 5 days which are probably not very useful for any planning purposes agricultural or otherwise. No relationship was found between onset dates of established monsoon rainfall and the 50 hPa mean monthly equatorial zonal wind for the months of March, April, May or June. However there is a possibility that a relationship may exist between westerly (easterly) winds in May and early (late) onset of the first monsoon (or pre-monsoon ?) rainfall in Kerala. Meager or otherwise.