Washington, Feb 28: A new climate modeling study has indicated that the South Asian summer monsoon, which is critical to agriculture in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal, could be weakened and delayed due to rising temperatures by the end of this century.
The study, by a Purdue University research group, found that climate change could influence monsoon dynamics and cause less summer precipitation, a delay in the start of monsoon season and longer breaks between the rainy periods.
According to Noah Diffenbaugh, whose research group led the study, the summer monsoon affects water resources, agriculture, economics, ecosystems and human health throughout South Asia.