Question

Briefly discuss the role of El Nino in the Indian climate.

Answer 1

El Niño is a climatic phenomenon that occurs when sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean rise above normal levels. This significantly affects global weather patterns, including the Indian climate.

• Impact on the Monsoon: El Niño often leads to a weakening of the southwest monsoon, causing below-average rainfall in India, especially in northwest and central India.
• Droughts: It increases the likelihood of droughts in many regions, affecting agriculture and water resources.
• Temperature Rise: El Niño also causes a rise in temperatures across India, leading to hotter summers.

Thus, El Niño plays a major role in disrupting the normal monsoon cycle and can lead to severe climatic anomalies in India.