Floods will be common in single rain, cumulus clouds settling in Kerala and are behind 2018 floods

KOCHI: The presence of cumulus clouds along the Kerala coast causes premature rainfall including in Kochi. The new finding is on a study by a research student at CUSAT. The study covers the monsoon seasons of 1980-99 and 2000-19. Rain clouds have undergone a major structural change. This phenomenon on the west coast has also changed the nature of the rainfall received along the coast of Kerala.

Rain clouds have been rising over Kerala for the past two decades. The floods in August 2018 was caused by cumulus clouds and a subsequent light cloudburst. The west coast is characterized by the change of clouds into a structure that brings things to a similar state. This will increase the intensity of rainfall and increase atmospheric instability.

In the study by the research student A V Sreenath of CUSAT, P Vijaya Kumar of the University of Malaysia and Prof Brian Mapes of the University of Miami had also cooperated. The study was under the guidance of Dr S Abhilash, director of CUSAT Radar Centre Research.

Will rain soon
The presence of cumulus clouds will be there only for two to three days during the monsoon season, which lasts for 122 days. This is probably increasing. Large loads of cumulus clouds will soon rain. The clouds are growing higher. The presence of ice, which normally forms only in the clouds, has also led to an increase in the amount of rainwater that can condense.

Reason for the phenomenon
Surface temperature of the Arabian Sea
Fast south-westerly wind
South Asian Summer Monsoon Circulation

Environmental problem will be there
If the current situation continues, cumulus clouds may increase. Studies show that it grows taller and increases the likelihood of phenomena such as light cloudbursts. The study suggests that in Kerala, which is different in terms of water resources and topography, such changes can sometimes lead to predictable environmental problems. The presence of cumulus clouds are gathering along the west coast of Kerala.