Mongabay series: Flood and drought
Flood is an overflow of water, while a drought is a prolonged shortage of water. India witnesses both and sometimes, at the same time. Unusual rainfall patterns are becoming commonplace now and trigger disasters such as floods and droughts which are related to the timing of the rainfall, rather than the quantum of rainfall. From long dry spells to excessive rainfall, recent monsoons in India have been seasons of extremes. The latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) AR6 predicts that south Asia, including India, will see more extreme weather events in the years to come. The Indian subcontinent could witness more heat extremes and droughts, as well as extreme rainfall events, it says. When weather patterns deviate from the norm, farmers, whose livelihoods are tied to predictable weather patterns, are among the many who bear the brunt. This in turn has ramifications for India’s food and water security. In this series, we will look at the trends of floods and droughts in India and the climate crisis that is exacerbating them.
Floods, cyclones caused maximum deaths by extreme weather events in past 50 years
Flash droughts set to increase in India, finds study
Scientists analysing Uttarakhand floods highlight need to improve monitoring of glaciers
Monitoring rainfall changes in world’s wettest place
Though Cyclone Nivar had a soft landing, floods hit coastal districts
Hyderabad floods highlight the need for a disaster mitigation and climate resilience plan
Arabian Sea needs to be closely monitored for future storms: Study
To dam or not to dam? Floods in eastern Vidarbha raise the perennial debate
Present versus past: Environmental threats can destroy Edakkal caves and their Stone Age carvings
Rainfall in parts of Karnataka has reduced over decades
[Commentary] Onam is a day to remember the environment to economics connect in Kerala
There’s more to Kodagu floods than heavy rains
Floods across the country highlight need for a robust flood management structure
Mumbai flood breaches new frontiers
Deadly landslides are becoming Kerala’s new reality every monsoon
Assam reels under flood as pandemic wears on
Ecosystems-based adaptation keeps water running in Bhojdari even in dry months
Protect India’s forests and urban green spaces, says India’s climate change report
With floods and COVID-19, Assam faces a dual threat
Special series
Wetland Champions
- [Commentary] India establishes the largest network of Ramsar Sites in South Asia
- [Commentary] Wetland champions: Promise from the grassroots
- The story of Jakkur lake sets an example for inclusive rejuvenation projects
- Welcome to Tsomgo lake: Please don’t litter
Environment And Health
- Stitching sustainability amidst climate change challenges
- Gujarat bans exotic Conocarpus tree amid health and environment hazard
- Malaria-carrying mosquitoes shift homes from forests to rice fields
- [Commentary] Neglecting household biomedical waste management can lead to adverse environmental effects
India's Iconic Landscapes
- Saving India’s wild ‘unicorns’
- Indrella ampulla’s genetic tapestry unveils colour morphs isolated across the Palghat Gap
- [Commentary] Up close and personal with the fragility of the Himalayas
- Studies reveal impact of land use on species diversity in rock outcrops
Beyond Protected Areas
- Rehabilitating trafficked star tortoises using genetic intelligence
- [Interview] Richie Mehta on addressing the elephant in the room in ‘Poacher’
- Scientists leap beyond Latin to give local flair to species names
- Deaths in human-animal conflict in Wayanad spark protests and debates
Conserving Agro-biodiversity
- [Commentary] GROW with agroforestry, a step towards sustainable land management
- Millet tradition loses flavour among Madhya Pradesh’s tribals
- A village nurtures traditional food systems in response to climate change
- Rising air pollution impacts India’s crop yields and food security
Just Transitions
- How unplanned coal mine closures in India are affecting dependent communities, especially women
- Green Credit Scheme’s ‘methodology’ doesn’t inspire confidence among experts
- Conflict over critical mineral prospecting in Odisha signals need for better community involvement
- Fuel leak in Manipur raises concerns over water contamination