What characteristics can be assigned to monsoon climate that succeeds in feeding more than 50 percent of the world population residing in Monsoon Asia?

Shows how a failing monsoon in an El Niño year hits water, food and incomes, illustrating Monsoon Asia's dependence on monsoon reliability.

• In this El Niño year India's national seasonal rainfall shortfall is around 15 to 17%, and Karnataka has declared 177 of its 239 talukas drought-hit.
• Maharashtra swung from a 40% July surplus to an August deficit of 46%, with 31 of 36 districts deficient and Marathwada and Vidarbha worst hit.
• Weak monsoons bring falling reservoir levels, food inflation and lower rural incomes.

Use August 2026 to illustrate the monsoon's variability and its dependence on ocean-atmosphere signals, which shape food and water security.

• August 2026 was India's warmest since 1901 (mean 28.01°C against 27.34°C) and its rainfall of 213.3 mm was 16.3% below normal.
• IMD linked weak rain to strong El Niño in the equatorial Pacific; a positive Indian Ocean Dipole can offset it, but it is neutral now.
• IMD warned below-normal rain can hurt agriculture, water resources, hydropower and drinking water, and advised water conservation and contingency planning for agriculture.

Illustrates the monsoon's seasonal rhythm, wind reversal and dependence of crops and water on its timing.

• IMD's normal dates (revised 2020): onset over Kerala 1 June, whole country by 8 July, withdrawal from 17 September, complete withdrawal by 15 October.
• As the heat low over northwest India weakens, winds reverse and the northeast monsoon (October to December) brings much of Tamil Nadu's rain.
• In 2026 all-India rainfall to 19 September was 15% below normal; note that deficits hurt rabi soil moisture, reservoirs and food prices.