Q18. How far do you agree that the behaviour of the Indian monsoon has been changing due to humanising landscape? Discuss.

Model Answer:

Introduction

The Indian monsoon is a critical climatic phenomenon, influencing agriculture, water supply, and the overall economy of the country. Recent studies suggest that the behaviour of the Indian monsoon is undergoing changes, significantly influenced by human activities and landscape alterations.

Body

Changes in Monsoon Behavior Due to Humanising Landscape:

• Deforestation and Land Use Changes:
  • Impact on Rainfall Patterns: Deforestation for agriculture, urbanisation, and industrial development reduces the natural vegetation cover, which plays a crucial role in maintaining local humidity and precipitation patterns. This can lead to irregular rainfall and even droughts in some regions.
  • Increased Runoff: The conversion of forests to agricultural land or urban areas leads to increased surface runoff, reducing groundwater recharge and altering the natural water cycle.
• Urbanisation:
  • Heat Island Effect: Rapid urbanisation creates heat islands in cities, leading to localised warming. This can affect monsoon onset and intensity, potentially causing increased rainfall in urban areas while surrounding rural regions may experience reduced precipitation.
  • Changes in Air Quality: Urban pollution can alter atmospheric conditions, impacting monsoon dynamics. Increased aerosols in the atmosphere can suppress rainfall in some cases, leading to erratic weather patterns.
• Agricultural Practices:
  • Unsustainable Practices: Intensive farming practices, including excessive use of fertilisers and pesticides, can degrade soil health and impact local hydrology. Poor soil quality affects water retention, leading to runoff and reduced infiltration during monsoon rains.
  • Crop Choices: The selection of water-intensive crops in regions that are already water-stressed can exacerbate issues during monsoon failures, leading to crop losses and food insecurity.
• Climate Change:
  • Global Warming: Human-induced climate change, driven by greenhouse gas emissions, alters atmospheric conditions. This can lead to more intense monsoons, causing severe flooding in some areas while others may face droughts, showcasing a stark change in monsoon behaviour.

Conclusion

‍The behaviour of the Indian monsoon is indeed changing, with significant contributions from human activities that alter the landscape. Deforestation, urbanisation, unsustainable agricultural practices, and climate change collectively influence monsoon patterns, leading to unpredictable weather events and impacts on agriculture and water resources. To mitigate these changes, a concerted effort toward sustainable land management, reforestation, and climate adaptation strategies is essential to preserve the integrity of the monsoon system and its vital role in India’s ecosystem.

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