Heavy rains leading to fatal landslides in Kerala, India, last month were exacerbated by human-induced climate change, according to a rapid analysis by World Weather Attribution. Their climate models found the rainfall, which saw 15 centimeters (5.91 inches) fall within 24 hours, was made 10% more intense due to global warming. The scientists suspect continued emissions of greenhouse gases will cause more frequent severe downpours, contributing to similar disasters.
The catastrophe left almost 200 dead and over 130 people missing in the popular tourist state of Kerala. This marks the third-heaviest rainfall since record keeping commenced in 1901. Study author Mariam Zachariah from Imperial College London remarked, "The Wayanad landslides are another catastrophic example of climate change playing out in real time."
India faces significant climate impacts, with erratic monsoon rains and deadly heat waves. Experts, including Arpita Mondal from IIT Bombay, call for improved early warning systems and reduction of deforestation to mitigate future risks. Madhavan Rajeevan, who was part of India's Ministry of Earth Sciences, emphasized the need for landslide-prone regions to prepare for more intense rainfall. The study also highlighted the necessity of better forest management, saying a drop in forest cover can worsen the risk of landslides during deluges. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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