Bangaloreans sentimental about weather change in their city

Bangaloreans sentimental about weather change in their city

Staff Reporter

Bangalore: The monsoon seems to have all but circumvented Bangalore so far, even as there are floods in coastal and north interior Karnataka. Meteorological Department’s Director G.S. Vijayaraghavan attributes this to strong winds — up to 60 to 70 kmph, that have been disbursing the rain-laden clouds. But he insists that the statistics reveal that rainfall received in Bangalore has been normal this year.

However, Bangaloreans seem more sentimental about what they see as a change in weather patterns in the city. Geetha Belliappa, a long-time resident of Bangalore, said, “Towards the end of May and early June, rains usually refreshed the place, the trees seemed greener and everything seemed cleaner. But the rainfall this year has definitely been a disappointment.”

Jalaja Bai, resident of the city for 60 years, shares the sentiment: “I don’t know if it is due to global warming but the lack of rain this season certainly is in keeping with the other changes we are witnessing. In the ’50s and ’60s we had heavy rains by this time and it was really cold in the winter. But now that is all changing. .”

P. Goswami, scientist with the Centre for Mathematical Modelling and Computer Simulation, uses an analogy to dispel any such concerns. “Think of the monsoon as a blanket — and a porous blanket. Which means that some areas get more rain, some less,” he said.

The country at large has not witnessed an acknowledgeable change in rainfall trends, he added.

The long range rainfall forecast of the Indian Metrological Department for the southern peninsula is expected to be normal with only a six per cent fall in the amount of rainfall, said Mr. Vijayaraghavan. “Tumkur, Kolar and other regions are all experiencing less rainfall.

However, the current trend is expected to change soon and the meteorological department has forecast 110 cms of rain for Bangalore in July,” he said.