SOUTHERN PENINSULA OF INDIA
1. Context
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday that southern peninsular India this year experienced the sixth driest October in 123 years.
2. Where is the southern peninsula of India?
The southern peninsula of India refers to the geographic region located in the southern part of the Indian subcontinent. It is surrounded by the Indian Ocean on three sides: the Arabian Sea to the west, the Bay of Bengal to the east, and the Indian Ocean to the south
The southern peninsula encompasses the states of:
Tamil Nadu
Kerala
Karnataka
Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
Puducherry
Lakshadweep
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
3.Why is southern part of India called a peninsular?
- The southern part of India is called a "peninsula" because of its geographic shape and position. A peninsula is a landmass that is almost entirely surrounded by water but connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of land.
- In the case of the southern part of India, it is a peninsula because it is bordered by water on three sides, with the Indian Ocean to the south and the Arabian Sea to the west and the Bay of Bengal to the east. The only land connection to the Indian mainland is to the north.
- This geographic configuration creates a distinctive peninsula that juts out into the Indian Ocean, and it gives the region its unique geographic characteristics, including an extensive coastline, diverse landscapes, and access to multiple bodies of water. The southern peninsula of India is known for its cultural diversity, natural beauty, and rich history, making it a significant and prominent part of the Indian subcontinent.
4. Rainfall in the Southern Peninsula
- According to the IMD, the October rainfall as on October 31 was as follows: coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam (18mm, -90 per cent), Rayalaseema (12.7mm, -90 per cent), Tamil Nadu, Karaikal and Puducherry (98.5mm, -43 per cent), south interior Karnataka (64.5mm, -53 per cent) and Kerala (311mm, 1 per cent).
- With 2023 being an El Nino year, when combined with the positive phase of the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), such rainfall deficits are commonly observed during October and have been previously recorded, added Mohapatra. Notably, 2023, 2016 and 1988, among the six driest October months over the southern peninsula, were El Nino years
- One of the major contributors to this poor rainfall was the timing of the northeast monsoon coinciding with other oceanic factors. While the northeast monsoon onset date was realised on October 21, the active Bay of Bengal and cyclogenesis around the same time influenced the monsoon onset.
- “This year, the commencement of the northeast monsoon coincided with the genesis of the cyclone Hamoon which crossed the Bangladesh coast..
5.India Meteorological Department (IMD)
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) is the national meteorological organization in India. It operates under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, and is responsible for providing weather and climate-related services, monitoring and forecasting weather patterns, and issuing warnings for various natural disasters, including cyclones, heavy rainfall, and heatwaves
Functions and responsibilities:
- IMD provides daily weather forecasts, including information on temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind speed, and other meteorological parameters. It issues forecasts for different time scales, from short-term to long-term, to help the public, agriculture, and various sectors plan their activities.
- IMD is responsible for tracking and issuing warnings for tropical cyclones that affect the coastal regions of India. It plays a crucial role in disaster preparedness and response during cyclonic events
- IMD is known for its role in predicting the onset and progression of the monsoon in India, which is vital for agriculture, water resource management, and disaster preparedness
- IMD monitors and reports seismic activity in India and the surrounding region. It issues information on earthquakes and seismic hazards
Source: indianexpress
