The effect of Ganges river basin irrigation on pre‐monsoon rainfall

Fletcher, J.K.; Birch, C.E.; Keane, R.J.; Taylor, C.M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0120-3198; Folwell, S.S.. 2022 The effect of Ganges river basin irrigation on pre‐monsoon rainfall. Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, 148 (747). 3056-3070. 10.1002/qj.4218

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/qj.4218

Abstract/Summary

The first experiment studying the effect of irrigation on pre-monsoon rainfall in India using a high-resolution convection-permitting model has been carried out. This study includes both short (3-day) experiments and month-long free-running simulations, enabling investigation of the effect of irrigation on mesoscale circulations and associated rainfall. In the pre-monsoon, it is found that irrigation increases rainfall in our simulations. Intriguingly, the rainfall increase found in the high-resolution model mostly occurs on the mountains near the irrigation rather than over the irrigated region itself. This is because our applied irrigation is in low-lying regions, and so it enhances the mountain-valley flows leading to enhancement of diurnally driven orographic rainfall. Because Ganges basin irrigation occurs near mountains which already have some of the highest rainfall rates in the world, and which are subject to flash flooding and landslides, this has significant implications for hazards in mountainous regions during the pre-monsoon and early monsoon period.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1002/qj.4218
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Hydro-climate Risks (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	0035-9009
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	convection, India, irrigation, monsoon, precipitation
NORA Subject Terms:	Meteorology and Climatology
Date made live:	23 Dec 2021 11:44 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/531610

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1002/qj.4218

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Hydro-climate Risks (Science Area 2017-)

ISSN:

0035-9009

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.

Additional Keywords:

convection, India, irrigation, monsoon, precipitation