El Niño makes India’s heavy rains more intense, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• A study analyzing rainfall data from 1901-2020 indicates that El Niño increases the intensity of heavy rainfall in central and southwest India.
• Despite reducing overall rainfall, El Niño can lead to catastrophic floods due to intensified heavy downpours.
• The research highlights challenges for farmers, city planners, and disaster managers in preparing for extreme weather events during El Niño years.

Detailed Insights:

• El Niño's impact extends beyond drought, causing shifts in rainfall patterns with fewer light and moderate rains but more intense heavy rains.
• The increased intensity of rainfall during El Niño years can result in unexpected and severe flooding, even in drought-affected regions.
• Understanding these dual impacts of El Niño is crucial for developing effective strategies for water resource management and disaster preparedness.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• El Niño: A climate pattern describing the unusual warming of surface waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.