Variations in Indian Summer Monsoon Rainfall patterns in Changing Climate

Abstract

The Indian summer monsoon is a large scale synoptic and dominant circulation feature which is largely restricted to the summer months from June to September. The proper understanding of rainfall pattern and its trends may help water resources development, agriculture sector and to take decisions for developmental activities. The present study is an attempt to evaluate the spatial variability in Indian summer monsoon rainfall (ISMR) over the Indian subcontinent during the climatological period (1901-2010). The long-term annual, decadal and tricadal monsoon rainfall differences are considered for the period 1901-2010 during the monsoon (June-September) and peak monsoon month (July-August). The results show concern for the major areas of upper Himalaya, Western and peninsular India where positive rainfall difference/increase rainfall with 0.2 to 1 mm/day variation have been reported during the monsoon and peak monsoon months. Also, decrease in rainfall have been reported over Western Ghats, Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) and some central Indian regions in the range of -0.6 to -1.5 mm/day. Further, a broad overview of the study shows an enhancement of ISMR over Western India whereas a substantial decline over Northeast Indian regions which suggests the western shift of ISMR in changing climate.