Study reveals peak rainfall timing shifts.
• A study examining spatial rainfall trends across India found an increase in rainfall in certain parts of the country from 2011-20 compared to the previous decade (2001-2010).
• The study used GSMaP-ISRO data, a precipitation product developed by ISRO and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
• The study found a slight increase in rainfall in west-central India (2011-2020) compared to the previous decade (2001-2010), with an increase of around 2mm per day.
• The Indo-Gangetic Plain and southernmost parts of the country also experienced slightly increased rainfall per day.
• The eastern region received slightly less rainfall of about 1mm per day during the same period.
• The slight increase in daily rainfall over the west-central region is linked to increased vegetation, as evidenced by an increase in the average normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) value from around 0.2 to 0.4.
• The study also found a shift in the timing of maximum precipitation or peak time of maximum rainfall during a 24-hour period.
• The occurrence and timing of maximum rainfall are influenced by changes in the amount of aerosols or aerosol loading.