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Himalayas: Rain Dipole Disrupts Weather Patterns
6 Oct
Summary
- A new study reveals a precipitation dipole across the Himalayas.
- Extreme rain in one region means dryness in another.
- Early warning systems need to be location-specific for Himalayas.
A significant study by IIT Kharagpur researchers has identified a distinct "precipitation dipole" across the Himalayas. This phenomenon highlights an inverse relationship: extreme rainfall or snowfall in the central and eastern Himalayas is often accompanied by drier conditions in the western parts, and the opposite also occurs. The findings, published in the Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, underscore the necessity for highly localized early warning systems.
Analyzing over 6,100 extreme precipitation events from 1979 to 2023, the study pinpointed six recurring weather patterns. Four of these are linked to monsoon systems, including those originating from the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea, as well as Western Disturbances interacting with the monsoon.
While winter and spring Western Disturbances primarily affect the Karakoram, western Himalayas, and northwestern central Himalayas, summer monsoon systems are more impactful on the central and eastern Himalayas. The research connects these weather regimes to larger climate signals, offering potential for risk assessment days to weeks in advance. Future work aims to link atmospheric patterns to precipitation and subsequent impacts like floods and landslides.
