HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh has received its 'best' seasonal rainfall in the last decade so far, which according to climate change experts means monsoon this year may have also brought a shift in the rainfall pattern in the state for good.

 

While monsoon during 2007, 2009 and 2010 was good overall, the state didn't receive continuous rains like it has happened so far this year in the June-July period, weather experts said.

 

"The rainfall pattern changed in the last few years. We were getting more rainfall during August-September rather than June-July, but in contrast this year, we got good rains during the first half," said Thilotham R Kolanu, chief executive officer of renewable energy consulting firm Greenstratos Consulting. He said about a decade ago, the state used to get good amount of rains during the first half of monsoon, which suddenly changed.

 

Senior meteorologist RV Subba Rao said several low pressure areas formed over Bay of Bengal is the reason behind heavy rainfall so early into the monsoon.

 

"The heatwave conditions were more during pre-monsoon and hence monsoon will be good. Over the last few years, the state has not reported continuous rainfall like it has happened this year. We were covering up during August and September," said Rao, who has now retired from the Met department, but continues to be an expert in climate change.

 

Heavy showers have shattered hopes of good harvest of cotton and soyabean in Adilabad, Nizamabad, Kareemnagar and Khamman, as the sowed seeds were washed away in the rain fury, agriculturalists said. ""These farmers will have to re-sow the seeds or go for alternate crops,"" said Prof Aldas Janaiah of Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University ( ANGRAU).

 

Experts said as far as agriculture is concerned it has been good for paddy crop. "Continuous rainfall is an irritant for an urban population but ground water is getting replenished. These rains will enhance the water table and are a boon"" added Kolanu, former professor of environment management at the Administrative Staff College of India.

 

All reservoirs are now getting filled and both irrigated and rain-fed farmers are going to benefit from it, he added. Janaiah said this year paddy cultivation is estimated to touch 15-16 million tonnes. "This year we are expecting a bumper crop after a slump in food grain production during the last two years," he said.

 

Dr Sagar Dhara, an environmental scientist, also maintained that in the last decade this seems to be one of the best monsoons. "We are still not even half way through. We could have a dry August and September, we don't know. It appears to be a good monsoon but what happened in Uttarakhand is an extreme weather event. As the temperature goes up, atmosphere will carry more water vapour. It even happened in Mumbai during 2005," Dhara said, adding "The extreme weather events will only increase in the days to come."

 

Source:TimesOfIndia