Kolkata Blog

Archive for October, 2007

Climate change in West Bengal

October 9, 2007 at 9:25 am
Posted in Environment by jb

The nature of West Bengal’s weather is changing. Monsoon doesn’t come as scheduled any more. Duration of Summer became longer, Winter comes late, without its normal intensity and duration. The meteorologists are alarmed and they got a picture of the nature of changing climate. Some districts are witnessing more rainfall than usual and some are witnessing less. Number of depressions in the sea has also gone up.

Renowned meteorologist Dr. Swadesh Mitra made a survey on the weather of W.B. His studies are important for the development and industrialization of the State. According to him rainfall has decreased in Darjeeling, Malda, Krishnanagar, Bardhaman and Bankura from 1981 to mid 2007 and at the same time it has increased in Kolkata, Medinipur and Sagardwip region. Number of oceanic storms has also increased. During the period of 1901 – 1950 there were 5 droughts in the State. From 1951 – 2000 the number is gone up to 11. The statistics of flood: in the 70s 2 floods; from ’81 – ’90 6 floods; from ’91 – 2000 9 floods. The average temperature is also rising in the different parts of the State. The temperature of Sagardwip has rose 0.1 deg. Celsius form 1891 – 1970. Darjeeling has an average rise of 0.6 deg. Celsius, Baharampur 0.4 deg. Celsius, Bardhaman 0.2 deg. Celsius and Alipur and central Kolkata 0.7 deg. Celsius. Rise of temperature is rapid after the ‘70s. Average numbers of depressions in the year in the Bay of Bengal have increased from 7.3 to 8.9. Earlier the schedule of arrival of the Monsoon in W.B. was on 8^th June but now it arrives on 13^th of June. But the monsoon bids adieu at it’s schedule time although it comes later. The rainfall is also becoming irregular.