A new study by researchers at the Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) has showed that Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO) can influence extreme rainfall over Kerala in the monsoon season.
MJO and its impact
MJO is an eastward propagating convective system that passes over the Indian and Pacific Oceans, with a periodicity of 30–60 days and it influences most of the tropical weather systems. “Around 70 active MJO days occurred over the equatorial Indian Ocean during 2019- 2021 in the months from June to August,” said Dr. Ajil Kottayil, scientist at the Advanced Centre for Atmospheric Radar Research, CUSAT, who led the study. K. Prajwal, research scholar in the university, and Dr. Prince Xavier of UK’s Met Office were part of the research team that analysed meteorological datasets over a period of two decades since 2000.
