Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, studying the monsoon impact of GHGs over the next century has come to this conclusion that aerosols may be weakening rainy season even more than GHGs.
Study on Monsoon
- Greenhouse gases are causing concern about the long-term fate of the Indian monsoon.
- Researchers think aerosols from vehicular exhaust, half-burnt crop residue, dust and chemical effluents may be weakening the life-giving rainy season even more than GHGs.
- a mix of GHGs, aerosols and changes in forest and agricultural cover was affecting the strength of the monsoon, which was known to be weakening over the last 50 years.
- New simulations suggest that aerosols may be a far more important factor than GHGs.
- The scientist used an upgraded forecasting model that was used this year by the India Meteorological Department for forecasts.
- The model will help prepare India’s first home-grown forecast of climate change from global warming, and be part of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports.
Aerosol
- Aerosol is a colloid of fine solid particles or liquid droplets, in air or another gas.
- Aerosols can be natural or anthropogenic.
- Examples of natural aerosols are fog, forest exudates and geyser steam.
- Examples of artificial aerosols are haze, dust, particulate air pollutants and smoke.
Source : The Hindu
GS III : Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment