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Drought in India

December 15, 2023

Drought has resulted in millions of deaths in India over the years.[citation needed] Indian agriculture is heavily dependent on the country's climate: a favorable monsoon is critical to securing water for irrigating India's crops. In parts of India, failure of the monsoons causes water shortages, resulting in poor yields.[1] This is particularly true of major drought-prone regions southeastern Maharashtra, northern Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Gujarat, Telangana, and Rajasthan.

Drought-affected area in Karnataka, India, 2012

History edit

Only about 35% of total agricultural land in India is irrigated and two-thirds of cultivated land is entirely dependent on rainfall. As such, the agricultural production system in the country is more vulnerable to damage from extreme climatic events, which causes increased water stress leading to inadequate water supplies for irrigation. Already, rises in average temperatures, changes in rainfall patterns, increasing frequency of extreme weather events, such as severe droughts and floods, and the shifting of agricultural seasons have been observed in different agro-ecological zones of India. Long drought spells during Kharif and increased temperatures and unseasonal heavy rains during the rabi season have caused serious distress to the farming communities in different states in recent years. Four major farming systems are prevailing in India: the irrigated system, rainfed system, silvo-pastoral system, and desert farming.[2]

In the past, droughts have periodically led to major Indian famines, including the Bengal famine of 1770, in which up to one third of the population in affected areas died; the 1876–1877 famine, in which over five million people died; and the 1899 famine, in which over 4.5 million died.[3][4] In simple words, drought has destroyed India on a large scale. Eighteen meteorological and 16 hydrological droughts occurred in India between 1870 and 2018. The most severe meteorological droughts were in the years 1876, 1899, 1918, 1965, and 2000,  while the five worst hydrological droughts occurred in the years 1876, 1899, 1918, 1965, and 2000. The drought of 1899 can be classified as meteorological as well as hydrological and was the most severe documented drought India has ever experienced to date.

Droughts correlate with heat waves (see List of Indian heat waves).

Impact of El Niño edit

All such episodes of severe drought correlate with El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events.[5][6] El Niño-related droughts have also been implicated in periodic declines in Indian agricultural output.[7] Nevertheless, ENSO events that have coincided with abnormally high sea surfaces temperatures in the Indian Ocean—in one instance during 1997 and 1998 by up to 3 °C (5 °F)—have resulted in increased oceanic evaporation, resulting in unusually wet weather across India. Such anomalies occurred during a sustained warm spell that began in the 1990s.[8] A contrasting phenomenon is that, instead of the usual high-pressure air mass over the southern Indian Ocean, an ENSO-related oceanic low-pressure convergence center forms; it then continually pulls dry air from Central Asia, desiccating India during what should have been the humid summer monsoon season. This reversed airflow causes India's droughts.[9] The extent that an ENSO event raises sea surface temperatures in the central Pacific Ocean influences the degree of drought.[5] Around 43 percent of El Niño events are followed by drought in India.[10]

See also edit

References edit

  • Allaby, M (1998), Floods, Facts on File, ISBN 0-8160-3520-2.
  • Allaby, M (2002), Encyclopedia of Weather and Climate, Facts on File, ISBN 0-8160-4071-0.
  • Balfour, E (1976), Encyclopaedia Asiatica: Comprising Indian Subcontinent, Eastern and Southern Asia, Cosmo Publications, ISBN 81-7020-325-2.
  • Burroughs, WJ (1999), The Climate Revealed, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-77081-5.
  • Caviedes, C (2001), El Niño in History: Storming Through the Ages, University Press of Florida, ISBN 0-8130-2099-9.
  • Chouhan, TS (1992), Desertification in the World and Its Control, Scientific Publishers, ISBN 81-7233-043-X.
  • Collier, W; Webb, R (2002), Floods, Droughts and Climate Change, University of Arizona Press, ISBN 0-8165-2250-2.
  • Heitzman, J; Worden, RL (1996), India: A Country Study, Library of Congress (Area Handbook Series), ISBN 0-8444-0833-6.
  • Nash, JM (2002), El Niño: Unlocking the Secrets of the Master Weather Maker, Warner, ISBN 0-446-52481-6.
  • Posey, CA (1994), The Living Earth Book of Wind and Weather, Reader's Digest Association, ISBN 0-89577-625-1.
  • Singh, VP; Ojha, CSP; Sharma, N (2004), The Brahmaputra Basin Water Resources, Springer, ISBN 1-4020-1737-5.

Citations edit

  1. ^ Swain, S; et al. (2017). "Application of SPI, EDI and PNPI using MSWEP precipitation data over Marathwada, India". 2017 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS). Vol. 2017. pp. 5505–5507. doi:10.1109/IGARSS.2017.8128250. ISBN 978-1-5090-4951-6. S2CID 26920225.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  2. ^ "ICARDA India Country Office". International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA).
  3. ^ Nash 2002, pp. 22–23.
  4. ^ Collier & Webb 2002, p. 67.
  5. ^ a b Kumar KK; Rajagopalan B; Hoerling M; Bates G; Cane M (2006), "Unraveling the Mystery of Indian Monsoon Failure During El Niño", Science, 314 (5796): 115–119, Bibcode:2006Sci...314..115K, doi:10.1126/science.1131152, PMID 16959975, S2CID 7085413.
  6. ^ Caviedes 2001, p. 121
  7. ^ Caviedes 2001, p. 259.
  8. ^ Nash 2002, pp. 258–259.
  9. ^ Caviedes 2001, p. 117.
  10. ^ "Preparing for a poor monsoon". The Hindu. 26 April 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2014.

Further reading edit

  • Christopher de Bellaigue, "The River" (the Ganges; review of Sunil Amrith, Unruly Waters: How Rains, Rivers, Coasts, and Seas Have Shaped Asia's History; Sudipta Sen, Ganges: The Many Pasts of an Indian River; and Victor Mallet, River of Life, River of Death: The Ganges and India's Future), The New York Review of Books, vol. LXVI, no. 15 (10 October 2019), pp. 34–36. "[I]n 1951 the average Indian [inhabitant of India] had access annually to 5,200 cubic meters of water. The figure today is 1,400... and will probably fall below 1,000 cubic meters – the UN's definition of 'water scarcity' – at some point in the next few decades. Compounding the problem of lower summer rainfall... India's water table is in freefall [due] to an increase in the number of tube wells... Other contributors to India's seasonal dearth of water are canal leaks [and] the continued sowing of thirsty crops..." (p. 35.)

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Atlas of India.
General overview
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December 15, 2023
drought, india, drought, resulted, millions, deaths, india, over, years, citation, needed, indian, agriculture, heavily, dependent, country, climate, favorable, monsoon, critical, securing, water, irrigating, india, crops, parts, india, failure, monsoons, caus. Drought has resulted in millions of deaths in India over the years citation needed Indian agriculture is heavily dependent on the country s climate a favorable monsoon is critical to securing water for irrigating India s crops In parts of India failure of the monsoons causes water shortages resulting in poor yields 1 This is particularly true of major drought prone regions southeastern Maharashtra northern Karnataka Andhra Pradesh Odisha Gujarat Telangana and Rajasthan Drought affected area in Karnataka India 2012 Contents 1 History 2 Impact of El Nino 3 See also 4 References 5 Citations 6 Further reading 7 External linksHistory editOnly about 35 of total agricultural land in India is irrigated and two thirds of cultivated land is entirely dependent on rainfall As such the agricultural production system in the country is more vulnerable to damage from extreme climatic events which causes increased water stress leading to inadequate water supplies for irrigation Already rises in average temperatures changes in rainfall patterns increasing frequency of extreme weather events such as severe droughts and floods and the shifting of agricultural seasons have been observed in different agro ecological zones of India Long drought spells during Kharif and increased temperatures and unseasonal heavy rains during the rabi season have caused serious distress to the farming communities in different states in recent years Four major farming systems are prevailing in India the irrigated system rainfed system silvo pastoral system and desert farming 2 In the past droughts have periodically led to major Indian famines including the Bengal famine of 1770 in which up to one third of the population in affected areas died the 1876 1877 famine in which over five million people died and the 1899 famine in which over 4 5 million died 3 4 In simple words drought has destroyed India on a large scale Eighteen meteorological and 16 hydrological droughts occurred in India between 1870 and 2018 The most severe meteorological droughts were in the years 1876 1899 1918 1965 and 2000 while the five worst hydrological droughts occurred in the years 1876 1899 1918 1965 and 2000 The drought of 1899 can be classified as meteorological as well as hydrological and was the most severe documented drought India has ever experienced to date Droughts correlate with heat waves see List of Indian heat waves Impact of El Nino editAll such episodes of severe drought correlate with El Nino Southern Oscillation ENSO events 5 6 El Nino related droughts have also been implicated in periodic declines in Indian agricultural output 7 Nevertheless ENSO events that have coincided with abnormally high sea surfaces temperatures in the Indian Ocean in one instance during 1997 and 1998 by up to 3 C 5 F have resulted in increased oceanic evaporation resulting in unusually wet weather across India Such anomalies occurred during a sustained warm spell that began in the 1990s 8 A contrasting phenomenon is that instead of the usual high pressure air mass over the southern Indian Ocean an ENSO related oceanic low pressure convergence center forms it then continually pulls dry air from Central Asia desiccating India during what should have been the humid summer monsoon season This reversed airflow causes India s droughts 9 The extent that an ENSO event raises sea surface temperatures in the central Pacific Ocean influences the degree of drought 5 Around 43 percent of El Nino events are followed by drought in India 10 See also edit nbsp Ecology portal nbsp India portalList of cleanest cities in India Climate of India Climate change in India Peak water Environment of India Kalpasar Project Dissolved load Indian rivers interlinking project Interstate River Water Disputes Act Irrigation in India List of drainage basins by area List of rivers of India by discharge List of rivers by discharge List of dams and reservoirs in India List of water supply and sanitation by country Polavaram Project Pollution of the Ganges Indian water policy Saemangeum Seawall Water scarcity in India Water supply and sanitation in India Water pollution in IndiaReferences editAllaby M 1998 Floods Facts on File ISBN 0 8160 3520 2 Allaby M 2002 Encyclopedia of Weather and Climate Facts on File ISBN 0 8160 4071 0 Balfour E 1976 Encyclopaedia Asiatica Comprising Indian Subcontinent Eastern and Southern Asia Cosmo Publications ISBN 81 7020 325 2 Burroughs WJ 1999 The Climate Revealed Cambridge University Press ISBN 0 521 77081 5 Caviedes C 2001 El Nino in History Storming Through the Ages University Press of Florida ISBN 0 8130 2099 9 Chouhan TS 1992 Desertification in the World and Its Control Scientific Publishers ISBN 81 7233 043 X Collier W Webb R 2002 Floods Droughts and Climate Change University of Arizona Press ISBN 0 8165 2250 2 Heitzman J Worden RL 1996 India A Country Study Library of Congress Area Handbook Series ISBN 0 8444 0833 6 Nash JM 2002 El Nino Unlocking the Secrets of the Master Weather Maker Warner ISBN 0 446 52481 6 Posey CA 1994 The Living Earth Book of Wind and Weather Reader s Digest Association ISBN 0 89577 625 1 Singh VP Ojha CSP Sharma N 2004 The Brahmaputra Basin Water Resources Springer ISBN 1 4020 1737 5 Citations edit Swain S et al 2017 Application of SPI EDI and PNPI using MSWEP precipitation data over Marathwada India 2017 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium IGARSS Vol 2017 pp 5505 5507 doi 10 1109 IGARSS 2017 8128250 ISBN 978 1 5090 4951 6 S2CID 26920225 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint date and year link ICARDA India Country Office International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas ICARDA Nash 2002 pp 22 23 Collier amp Webb 2002 p 67 a b Kumar KK Rajagopalan B Hoerling M Bates G Cane M 2006 Unraveling the Mystery of Indian Monsoon Failure During El Nino Science 314 5796 115 119 Bibcode 2006Sci 314 115K doi 10 1126 science 1131152 PMID 16959975 S2CID 7085413 Caviedes 2001 p 121 Caviedes 2001 p 259 Nash 2002 pp 258 259 Caviedes 2001 p 117 Preparing for a poor monsoon The Hindu 26 April 2014 Retrieved 27 April 2014 Further reading editChristopher de Bellaigue The River the Ganges review of Sunil Amrith Unruly Waters How Rains Rivers Coasts and Seas Have Shaped Asia s History Sudipta Sen Ganges The Many Pasts of an Indian River and Victor Mallet River of Life River of Death The Ganges and India s Future The New York Review of Books vol LXVI no 15 10 October 2019 pp 34 36 I n 1951 the average Indian inhabitant of India had access annually to 5 200 cubic meters of water The figure today is 1 400 and will probably fall below 1 000 cubic meters the UN s definition of water scarcity at some point in the next few decades Compounding the problem of lower summer rainfall India s water table is in freefall due to an increase in the number of tube wells Other contributors to India s seasonal dearth of water are canal leaks and the continued sowing of thirsty crops p 35 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Atlas of India General overview Country Guide India BBC Weather India Water Portal India Weather and Climate High Commission of India London Drought hit areas in Karnataka in picturesMaps imagery and statistics India Meteorological Department Government of India Weather Resource System for India National Informatics Centre Archived from the original on 2007 04 29 Forecasts India Current Weather Conditions National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Drought in India amp oldid 1186537141, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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