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Blocking highs over Asia and monsoon droughts over India

Nature volume 289, pages 271–273 (1981)Cite this article

Abstract

Severe summer droughts of the Indian subcontinent have been found to accompany prolonged ‘breaks’ in the south-west monsoon. Data from the years of severe drought suggest that the associated breaks were due to upper tropospheric blocking ridges over East Asia. We present here a model for the evolution of two such blocking ridges: the East Asia (EABR) and the West Asia (WABR). Apparently an intense WABR—the initiator of the monsoon break—precedes the formation of the EABR. This cycle could be a way of predicting years of intense drought or monsoon activity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MONEX, New Delhi, 3, India

    C. R. V. Raman

  2. B3/33 Azad Apartments, New Delhi, 3, India

    Y. P. Rao

Authors
  1. C. R. V. Raman
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  2. Y. P. Rao
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Raman, C., Rao, Y. Blocking highs over Asia and monsoon droughts over India. Nature 289, 271–273 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1038/289271a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/289271a0

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