Delayed summer monsoon is seen as a massive disappointment in the countries of South-Asian region due to their high agricultural nature. India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Burma, and among others are the prominent countries that get severely damaged by monsoon delays. India in particular is estimated to be damaged by far the most because almost 20% of India’s economy is generated by agricultural means and Indian farmers depend profoundly on the summer monsoon to progress.
Global Warming is seen as a major threat and one of the prime causes of delayed summer monsoons. Studies show that the Global Warming has been affecting weather on several dimensions for the last 100 years. The delay of the summer monsoon in South Asia is one of those horrendous influences. It is also estimated that the delay would further extend in following years by 10 to 20 days. Greenhouse Effect occurs because men-made gases allow more of the sun’s heat to be absorbed by the earth and then it is released back into space and as a result there has been an increase in earth’s temperature and delays in monsoons.
Earth’s rising temperature is one of the foremost concerns regarding this matter. High levels of air pollution by automobiles and more importantly commercial factories have been depleting the ozone layer for decades. The releasing of carbon dioxide and other harmful gases into the earth’s atmosphere has begun to respond with roughness for human beings. This practice is even more problematic due to the fact that rains have started to absorb acidic and other harmful elements that are released into the air. Such rains, instead of flourishing the region, end up devastating it.
The burning of coal, natural gases, oil, and fossil fuels contribute vastly to delayed summer monsoon. When fossil fuels are burned, they result in a number of harmful by-products, including carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and sulfur dioxide. These actions again heat up the atmosphere due to which rainfalls delay and droughts occur.
A non-delayed summer monsoon is highly welcomed because it gives flourishing results for the crops; and ultimately contributing to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product on the whole. Major crops such as paddy, maize, cotton, groundnut, sugarcane and pulses all rely heavily on summer monsoon to prosper. Therefore, a delayed summer monsoon is equally mourned because then droughts prevail destroying the crops, which in most cases even lead to harsh famines in India.
Apart from crops, the hydroelectric generation of countries are also affected that face delayed monsoons. The South Asian countries already face a lack of electricity generation and with dams and other means of water remaining empty, it is hardly likely to make the situation any better.
Sources:
http://www.zeenews.com/news541372.html
http://saveburma.wordpress.com/2009/03/02/global-warming-could-delay-weaken-monsoons-study/
http://www.ncas.ac.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=291&Itemid=9
