Once upon a time weather predictions used to go so horribly wrong that forecasters on radio and television were the butt of jokes.
With better technology, we are able to predict severe weather conditions like cyclones and monsoons more accurately. That helps authorities to take preventive measures to ensure the safety of citizens.
But on a broader level, the climatic conditions that influence weather patterns have varied so much that it's still difficult to predict whether it'll rain or shine in a particular month.
This year, for example, here in Bengaluru, we had barely any summer. We got so much rain during the first half of this year.
I remember, it used to get quite hot from March onwards to nearly June, when it would begin to rain. In April, we got what used to be called "summer showers" or "April showers".
But this time around with so much rainfall, there has been no clarity on whether it's "summer showers", or "pre-monsoon showers" or "monsoon showers"!
In my school days, that's more than four decades ago, the south-west monsoon set in on Kerala exactly on the first of June. On the dot; there was never a change. Nowadays, it's either early or late.
Recently, Sydney, in Australia, got flooded for the third time this year. That's never happened before.
Right now, Europe is burning with record high temperatures. Just this morning I saw on BBC World News two students saying that during this time the previous year their locality was flooded. And they said it's so scary that this year it's so hot.
The problem is it's difficult to plan travel or holidays. Just because during a particular month in the previous years it was quite pleasant, doesn't mean it'd be so this year too.
(Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay)
This changing weather pattern happens all over the world. I am not a meteorologist. I read somewhere recently that ENSO (El Niño Southern Oscillation) is the main reason. Per Wikipedia, ENSO is an irregular periodic variation in winds and sea surface temperatures over the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean, affecting the climate of much of the tropics and subtropics all over the world. I did not go to Harvard and so I do not understand fully.
ReplyDeleteYes, climatologists are attributing many reasons. My doubt is why these changes should happen now... I guess this is good proof of climate change.
DeleteYes, the weather has been quite awful here, for longer periods than usual. It's getting quite unbearable for almost everyone.
ReplyDeleteClimate change has hit us full force. It's so sad.
ReplyDeleteOf course it is nothing to do with climate change. I know because coal miners, gas extractors and big business keep telling me so.
ReplyDeleteThat's one view. But my doubt is why these drastic changes in weather conditions must happen now.
DeleteI think it is fairly clear that it is a result of climate change. Every country in the world seems to be breaking weather records and climate scientists clearly tell us air pollution and the greenhouse effect is the reason.
DeleteThe weather certainly seems to be changing. In Australia the rain used to start at Easter and finish around early October - now it starts and finishes a month or two later. They say that when you look at the last 100 years there have always been fluctuations, but it does seem that the seasons have shifted over the last 10 years or so.
ReplyDeleteI agree. The seasons have changed.
DeleteHi Pradeep - the world changes ... always has done - after all only three to four hundred years ago in England we had frost fairs on the frozen River Thames ... late 1600s and on ... we just need to realise it's happening and will continue to happen - after being relatively calm since WW2 - yet then we had lots of cold and floods. It's very interesting ... but worrying for so many - take care - Hilary
ReplyDeleteOn a personal level, I've not noticed anything that unusual. We always have said in this part of the Midwestern United States, "If you don't like the weather, wait fifteen minutes." Heh... Please take care and stay safe.
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