2020 was eighth warmest year since 1901, says IMD

    1. Temperature

        a. During the year, annual mean land surface air temperature averaged over the country was +0.29°C above normal (based on the data of 1981-2010).

        b. The year 2020 was the eighth warmest year on record since nation-wide records commenced in 1901.

        c. The five warmest years on record in order were: 2016 (+0.71°C), 2009 (+0.55°C), 2017 (+0.541°C), 2010 (+0.539°C), and 2015 (+0.42°C).

        d. It may be mentioned that 12 out of 15 warmest years were during the recent fifteen years (2006-2020).

        e. The country averaged annual mean temperature during 1901-2020 showed an increasing trend of 0.62°C /100 years with significant increasing trend in maximum temperature (0.99°C /100 years) and relatively lower increasing trend (0.24°C /100 years) in minimum temperature.

        f. The country averaged mean monthly temperatures were warmer than the normal during all the months of the year except March and June.

    2. Rainfall

        a. The annual rainfall over the country was 109% of long period average (LPA) of 117.7 cms. 

        b. Rainfall over the country as a whole during the SW monsoon season (June-September), which is the principal rainy season of the country, was above normal (109% of LPA of 88 cms).

        c. During this season, among the four broad geographical regions of the country, Central India, South Peninsular and East & Northeast India received seasonal rainfall of 115%, 129% and 106% of its LPA respectively, while Northwest India received seasonal rainfall of 84% of itsLPA.

        d. The 2020 Northeast monsoon season (October-December) rainfall over the country as a whole was normal (101% of LPA).

        e. The seasonal rainfall during the northeast monsoon season over the core region of the south peninsula (comprising of 5 subdivisions viz. Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, Tamil Nadu & Puducherry, South Interior Karnataka and Kerala), was also normal (110% of LPA).

        f. All the five subdivisions of the core region except Kerala received excess/normal rainfall.

    3. Tropical Storms in the Indian Seas

        a. During 2020, 5 cyclones formed over the North Indian Ocean. 

        b. These are Super Cyclonic Storm AMPHAN, Very Severe Cyclonic Storms NIVAR & GATI, Severe Cyclonic Storm NISARGA, and Cyclonic Storm ‘BUREVI’.

        c. Of these, NISARGA & GATI formed over Arabian Sea, while the remaining 3 cyclones viz. AMPHAN, NIVAR & BUREVI formed over the Bay of Bengal. 

        d. Out of these five most devastating cyclones, the Super Cyclonic Storm AMPHAN formed in the pre-monsoon season and crossed West Bengal coast over Sundarbans on 20th May. It claimed 90 lives & about 4,000 livestock mainly in West Bengal.

        e. The Severe Cyclonic Storm NISARGA, formed in the Monsoon season, crossed Maharashtra coast on 3rd June and claimed 4 lives & 2000 livestock in Maharashtra.

        f. The remaining three cyclones viz.NIVAR, BUREVI & GATI formed during the post monsoon season.

        g. The Very Severe Cyclonic Storm NIVAR crossed Tamil Nadu & Puducherry coasts close to north of Puducherry and claimed 12 lives & 10836 livestock in Tamil Nadu & Andhra Pradesh.

        h. The Cyclonic Storm BUREVI claimed 9 lives & 200 livestock in Tamil Nadu.

        i. All these weather systems and their remnants and other low-pressure systems caused above normal rainfall over central and peninsular India.

    4. High Impact Weather Events

        a. The country also experienced other high impact weather events like, extremely heavy rainfall, floods, landslide, thunderstorm, lightning, cold waves, etc.

        b. Bihar & Uttar Pradesh were the most adversely affected states during the year which reportedly claimed more than 350 deaths from each state mainly due to thunderstorm, lightning & cold wave events.

        c. Heavy rainfall & flood related incidents reportedly claimed over 600 lives from different parts of the country during pre-monsoon, monsoon & post-monsoon seasons.

        d. Of these, 129 lives were reportedly claimed from Assam, 72 from Kerala [Specifically, 65 persons reportedly claimed dead in a single day from Pettimudi in Munnar, Idukki district of Kerala on 7th August due to landslide.], 61 from Telangana (while, 59 lives reportedly claimed only during the period 1st to 20th October), 54 lives from Bihar, 50 from Maharashtra, 48 Uttar Pradesh, & 38 from Himachal Pradesh.

        e. Thunderstorms and lightning reportedly claimed 815 lives from different parts of the country.

        f. Cold wave conditions mainly prevailed over central parts the country especially in the month of January. It caused deaths of about 150 people.

About IMD

India Meteorological Department was established in 1875. It is the National Meteorological Service of the country and the principal government agency in all matters relating to meteorology and allied subjects. From a modest beginning in 1875, IMD has progressively expanded its infrastructure for meteorological observations, communications, forecasting and weather services and it has achieved a parallel scientific growth. IMD has always used contemporary technology.

Objective

    • To take meteorological observations and to provide current and forecast meteorological information for optimum operation of weather-sensitive activities like agriculture, irrigation, shipping, aviation, offshore oil explorations, etc.

    • To warn against severe weather phenomena like tropical cyclones, norwesters, duststorms, heavy rains and snow, cold and heat waves, etc., which cause destruction of life and property.

    • To provide meteorological statistics required for agriculture, water resource management, industries, oil exploration and other nation-building activities.

    • To conduct and promote research in meteorology and allied disciplines.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants. The views expressed here are personal.)