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Wet Nepal
The rainfall in the country is being caused by the moisture in the airflow coming from Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean
By SAHISHNU POUDYAL
After a couple of years of disruption, the monsoon seems to have arrived in its full strength this year. Unlike previous years, there are only a few areas where farmers are complaining that they are yet to plant the paddy due to shortage of rainfall this year.
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Overcast sky : Welcome rains |
This is a good sign for the agriculture sector as the rainfall in June and July continues to be on average. Although it is yet to be seen how the middle and the end of the monsoon season will be like, the current estimates show that there will be good monsoon this year.
As usual, the rainy season has arrived with its usual attachments. Damp roads, greenery everywhere and wet surrounding make every one of us aware about the arrival of the wet season. No one can imagine going out without an umbrella or a raincoat. However, it does have its enjoyment value to get wet. This year the monsoon struck the country on June 1 st, which is ten days earlier than last year.
"Normally June 10 to third week of September is considered as season of monsoon in Nepal . But it does not always occur at the accurate time. One reason for this is the change in global climate and another main reason is due to over production of the green house gases by the industrial countries, which not only affect the monsoon by causing excessive rainfall but also, at times, deepens drought in dry season and increases coldness during winter,” said Madan Lal Shrestha, Director General of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology. He added, "Monsoon of Nepal depends on moisture of the air coming from Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal , so the irregularity of rain in Nepal is affected by the atmosphere in that region."
"As Nepal is agro-based country, it is good to have monsoon soon but it is not raining as good as it needs to be," said Mani Ratna Shakya, Senior Divisional Meteorologist. He added, "Looking at the record up to June this year it is found that in eastern part of hilly region it is raining above normal whereas in some part of western region it is raining under normal. In Kathmandu valley it is also raining below average i.e. 216.2mm, which can't be termed a good raining situation."
He added, "Monsoon of Nepal which is summer-based enters from the way of Bay of
Bengal from south east direction from Indian Ocean , centering at northern west part of India . As a result, first the monsoon starts from east then middle, and travels to western region of the country, respectively. Then, the air of monsoon goes towards northwest region of India on its way to Pakistan ."
The record provided by the airport in Kathmandu of five years raining condition in the valley shows that the rainfall has been irregular.
In Nepal , the highest amount of rainfall was observed in 18 August 2001in Pokhara, which was 357mm in twenty-four hours. And in Kathmandu , it is 23 July 2002 , when there was 177.0 mm in twenty-four hours. In monsoon, on average, it rains 3126.6mm and 1125.6 mm in Pokhara and in Kathmandu respectively. Annually in Nepal 80% of rain occur during monsoon season.
Actually, there are two kinds of monsoons, winter based monsoon and summer-based monsoon. The monsoon that occurs in Nepal is summer-based monsoon and is only the part of the airflow in south Asia . Winter-based monsoon is not felt by Nepal due to its geographical structure.
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