El Nino to persist through February 2027: What it means for India
The World Meteorological Organization says prevailing El Nino conditions could intensify into a very strong event and persist through February 2027, threatening India with weaker rainfall, higher temperatures and greater risks of drought, floods and extreme heat. With August already recording a 16% rainfall deficit and the hottest August since 1901, El Nino could further stress crops and winter conditions.
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Context
The (WMO) has projected that prevailing El Nino conditions are likely to intensify and persist through February 2027. This follows the (IMD) reporting India's driest and hottest August since 1901, with an overall rainfall deficit of 16% largely attributed to El Nino. The prolonged duration of this phenomenon raises significant concerns regarding the Indian monsoon, winter crop yields, and increased occurrences of extreme weather events like droughts and heatwaves.
UPSC Perspectives
Geographical
Understanding the mechanics of the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is critical for physical geography. ENSO is a coupled ocean-atmosphere phenomenon in the equatorial Pacific. El Nino, the warm phase, occurs when the normally strong trade winds weaken, allowing warm surface waters to shift from the western Pacific (near Indonesia) towards the eastern Pacific (near South America). This shift alters atmospheric pressure systems, typically resulting in a weakened Indian Monsoon, as the warming in the eastern Pacific shifts rainfall away from the Indian subcontinent. The article notes the IMD's confirmation of a deficient monsoon, illustrating this direct correlation. Conversely, La Nina, the cool phase, generally strengthens the Indian monsoon. A neutral phase exists when temperatures are near long-term averages. For UPSC Prelims, understanding these phases and their global impact (e.g., droughts in Australia/India, increased rainfall in South America) is essential.
Environmental
The persistence of El Nino through 2027 exacerbates existing Climate Change impacts, creating a compounding crisis. The warns of increased risks of extreme heat, droughts, and floods globally. In India, this translates to altered temperature patterns beyond just summer. The phenomenon is contributing to increasingly warmer and shorter winters, particularly in northern India. February has shown the fastest decadal warming rate (0.69°C). This warming trend blurs seasonal transitions, impacting ecosystems and potentially triggering early melting in the Himalayas. The situation highlights the challenge of climate variability superimposed on long-term global warming, making predictive modeling and disaster preparedness significantly more difficult for agencies like the .
Economic
The economic ramifications of a prolonged El Nino are profound, particularly concerning Agriculture & Food Security. A deficient monsoon directly impacts Kharif crop sowing and yields. More concerning, as highlighted in the article, are the implications for Rabi crops, specifically wheat. The shortening of winters and rising temperatures in February and March coincide with the crucial reproductive and grain-filling stages of wheat. This induces terminal heat stress, significantly reducing crop yields. A drop in agricultural production can lead to food inflation, impacting rural incomes and broader macroeconomic stability. This necessitates an evaluation of climate-resilient agriculture strategies, such as developing heat-tolerant crop varieties and optimizing irrigation practices to mitigate these persistent risks.