Western Ghats Monsoon Rainfall Rising for 800 Years: CUK Study
Why in the news
Scientists at the Central University of Kerala (CUK) reported that monsoon rain over the Western Ghats has been getting heavier for roughly eight centuries, based on a 1,600-year climate reconstruction.
Key facts
- Trend studied: steady rise in monsoon rainfall over the last 800 years in the Western Ghats.
- Reconstruction period: Indian monsoon history over 1,600 years.
- Method: multidisciplinary, combining geological and climate analysis.
- Evidence: lake sediments from Cheppandikere Lake, near Madikeri in Karnataka.
- Linked events: the 2018 and 2019 floods and landslides in Wayanad (Kerala) and Kodagu (Karnataka).
Significance
- Stronger monsoon is tied to more frequent, extreme rainfall in recent years.
- It gives historical proof for planning climate adaptation.
Way forward
- Better disaster preparedness in vulnerable Ghats districts.
- Sustainable land-use planning to curb ecological damage and landslide or flood risk.
- Long-term policies aimed at the risks of an intensifying monsoon.
Exam angle
- Institution: Central University of Kerala.
- Proxy record used: lake sediments at Cheppandikere Lake, Karnataka.
- Regions in focus: Wayanad and Kodagu.