Using records spanning over 220 years, the study found that only a 14% drop in the Average annual rainfall led to vast scale socio-economic disruptions and human impacts (famines) over two centuries ago in semi-arid parts of British India (then Bombay and Madras presidencies under the British rule).
The study was conducted by Climate scientists from the University of Colorado-Boulder, US, and Pune-based Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), among others. It was recently published in international journal Nature.
The study assumes significance, especially in the backdrop of below normal monsoon in India so far, and IMDs forecast of monsoon ending on the lower side of normal this season. Based on the findings, researchers suggested that apart from extreme rainfall deficits, risk assessment should also consider the potential impacts of more frequent low-level rainfall reductions in drought prone semi-arid regions in India.