A study led by the University of Reading found that the amount of winter rain and snow in the western Himalayas could vary by almost 50% depending on the air pressure gradient over the Atlantic Ocean between the Azores and Iceland.
A study led by the University of Reading found that the amount of winter rain and snow in the western Himalayas could vary by almost 50% depending on the air pressure gradient over the Atlantic Ocean between the Azores and Iceland.
Scientists have spent decades trying to establish the causes of a link between the two regions. This new study provides important evidence that could lead to better forecasting of winter precipitation levels in India, months in advance. The results could be used to improve yields of important crops, such as wheat and barley, and to help manage vital water supplies in the country.
Dr Kieran Hunt, a research scientist in tropical meteorology at the University of Reading and lead author of the study, said: “Despite being several thousand miles apart, we have known that pressure patterns over the North Atlantic have some influence over winter weather in the western Himalayas. However, making sense of that link and how strong it is has puzzled scientists for years.
“The link we have found could be incredibly useful for states and rural communities in north-west India that rely on winter rain and snow for supplies of food and water. Advance notice of any shift towards wetter or drier weather from observing the North Atlantic could be a lifeline in preparing for water shortages, or even flooding.”
Read more at University of Reading
Photo Credit: avalok via Pixabay
