Drought threat looms large

"With negligible amount of rainfall and unusually hot conditions this winter, there is a great possibility of drought as it will adversely affect the productivity of crops, like wheat, which need larger amount of water coupled with chilly conditions", said Prof HN Mishra, head of Allahabad University's geography department.

"With negligible amount of rainfall and unusually hot conditions this winter, there is a great possibility of drought as it will adversely affect the productivity of crops, like wheat, which need larger amount of water coupled with chilly conditions", said Prof HN Mishra, head of Allahabad University's geography department.

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Prof Mishra said: "The onslaught of temperate cyclone or western disturbance could not be effective in bringing rainfall in the winter season because the tropical cyclone originating from Bay of Bengal was more powerful. Due to this the frontogenesis -- the process where warm and cold air collide resulting in cyclone which helps in bringing the rainfall --could not be processed properly".

Moreover, tremendous environmental pollution has really prevented the rain in winter season. As the rate of dust and other micro particles in the air has increased largely, it has definitely disturbed the natural cycle, added Prof Mishra.

He said that the span of summer season has increased while that of winter has shrunk which can very well be experienced this year. And this is all because of global warming , he added.

The north and central parts of the country witnessed a very warm winter this year in living memory and citizens apprehend that this might be the beginning of very bad weather conditions in the future.