Overview

Forgotten Monsoons: The Northeast Monsoon and Its Hidden Influence on South India is a transformative study that redefines how India's monsoon systems are perceived, analyzed, and valued. While the Southwest Monsoon dominates scientific discourse and cultural consciousness, this book focuses on the underappreciated yet crucial Northeast Monsoon-a seasonal system that delivers essential rains to South India between October and December, when much of the rest of the country grows arid. These rains sustain agriculture, replenish water resources, and uphold the livelihoods of millions across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala. The book's central argument positions the Northeast Monsoon not as a mere secondary phenomenon, but as a dynamic and autonomous climate system vital to India's environmental and socio-economic balance. Drawing on decades of meteorological data, satellite observations, and field studies, the authors reveal a striking rise in rainfall intensity and frequency of extreme precipitation events since the 1980s. The analysis attributes these shifts to Indian Ocean warming and evolving atmospheric circulation, establishing the Northeast Monsoon as a critical climate change indicator and an essential area for research and policy focus. Structured across 30 comprehensive chapters, the text moves from foundational meteorological principles to real-world implications. The opening sections, such as The Forgotten Season and Fundamental Meteorological Dynamics, unpack the scientific mechanisms driving the monsoon-wind reversals, pressure variations, and the vital role of the Bay of Bengal in moisture transport. By combining accessible explanations with rigorous analysis, the book bridges the gap between expert climatology and public understanding. Subsequent chapters explore regional patterns and disparities in rainfall distribution. Case studies illustrate how monsoon variability influences diverse landscapes-from Chennai's coastal floods to interior droughts-and how local economies hinge on these fluctuations. The narrative vividly captures how Tamil Nadu's rice cultivation, Kerala's spice and backwater ecosystems, and Karnataka's coffee plantations all depend on the delicate rhythm of the Northeast Monsoon. Beyond climatology, Forgotten Monsoons delves into ecology, economics, and cultural adaptation. It highlights the resilience of South Indian communities, who have long relied on traditional systems of water conservation, tank irrigation, and indigenous forecasting methods. These age-old practices, when combined with modern technologies such as satellite monitoring, radar networks, and AI-based prediction models, represent a sustainable hybrid approach for managing future monsoon variability. In its later sections, the book addresses contemporary climate and governance challenges. It warns that intensifying rainfall and cyclonic events along India's southeastern coast require urgent attention to urban hydrology, coastal management, and disaster preparedness. The authors advocate for institutional reforms-including dedicated monsoon management cells and adaptive infrastructure-to ensure that policy frameworks give the Northeast Monsoon the recognition it deserves. Ultimately, Forgotten Monsoons is as much about people as it is about weather. Through personal narratives of farmers, fishermen, and women, it humanizes the climate story, emphasizing how monsoon shifts shape migration, labor, and social resilience. Combining scientific rigor with empathy, the book emerges as both an academic milestone and a moral appeal-to reimagine India's monsoon narrative in its full, dual rhythm, honoring the Northeast Monsoon as a force that sustains life, identity, and hope in South India.

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