Thursday, August 23, 2018

Extreme precipitation in Western Ghats and Kerala floods: NASA captures the images!


India Monsoon - August 13 to 20, 2018. Credits: NASA/JAXA/SSAI/Hal Pierce

The NASA has provided estimates of monsoon rainfall that affected India from August 13 to 20 that has devastated the south Indian state of Kerala, located in the southwest corner near the bottom of the peninsula. The huge rains marooned most of the state, about 370 or more people have reportedly died and about 800000 people have been displaced as a result of the extreme flooding and ensuing mudslides.

According to the NASA, “Accumulated IMERG rainfall estimates for the 1-week period from Aug. 13 to 20, 2018 showed two bands of heavy rain across India. The first band appeared much broader and extends across the northern part of the peninsula with weekly rainfall totals ranging from over 120 mm (~5 inches) towards the western half of the peninsula to as much as 350 mm (~14 inches) over parts of the eastern half towards the Bay of Bengal. This first band is associated with the general monsoon circulation”.

NASA said that, “The second band appeared more concentrated and intense and is closely aligned with the southwest coast of India and the Western Ghats where onshore flow was enhanced by an area of low pressure embedded within the general monsoon.  Weekly rainfall totals in this band are generally over 250 mm (~10 inches) with embedded areas exceeding 400 mm (~16 inches). The maximum estimated value from IMERG in this band was 469 mm (~18.5 inches)”.




Ranjan Panda
Convenor, Combat Climate Change Network, India

Email: ranjanpanda@gmail.com
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