Lok Sabha Question No. 5090 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-02
Subject: Impact of La Niña on Climate Patterns
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Shri Saleng A Sangma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5090

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 2 ND  APRIL, 2025

## IMPACT OF LA NIÑA ON CLIMATE PATTERNS

## 5090.   SHRI SALENG A SANGMA:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  note  of  the  recent  report  of  Copernicus  Climate Change  Service  stating  that  January  2025  was  the  hottest  on  record  despite  the development  of  La  Niña  conditions  and  if  so,  the  Government's  assessment  of  this phenomenon;
- (b) the expected impact of La Niña on the Indian monsoon, agriculture and overall climate patterns in 2025;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  initiated  any  measures  to  mitigate  the  adverse  effects  of extreme climate variations caused by El Niño and La Niña particularly in sectors such as agriculture and disaster management; and
- (d) the steps being taken to strengthen climate prediction models and early warning systems to enhance preparedness for La Niña-related weather variations?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- (a) Yes. The Copernicus Climate Change Service report states that the global average surface air temperature during January 2025 was the hottest on record (0.79°C warmer than the 1991-2020)  despite  the  development  of  La  Niña  conditions.  However,  the  average temperature in the Indian region was the second highest since 1901 (0.98°C warmer than 1991-2020). The main reason for higher temperatures is global warming, which is closely linked  to  climate  change.  Global  warming  refers  to  the  long-term  increase  in  Earth's average surface temperature due to human activities, primarily burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas. This process releases greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse  gases into  the  atmosphere,  which  trap  heat  and  cause  the planet to warm up.
- (b) In  general,  during  the  La  Niña  years,  the  Indian  summer  monsoon  experiences  aboveaverage  rainfall,  which  is  beneficial  for  better  crop  production.  However,  currently, neutral  El  Niño-Southern  Oscillation  (ENSO)  is  prevailing  over  the  equatorial  Pacific Ocean with above-average sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the eastern and far western Pacific Ocean and below-average SSTs in the central Pacific Ocean. The latest Monsoon Mission Climate Forecasting System (MMCFS) and other global model forecasts indicate that neutral ENSO conditions are likely to continue during the southwest monsoon season of 2025. Thus, no La Niña impact is expected on the Indian monsoon during 2025. IMD will  issue  the  first  stage  of  the  seasonal  forecast  for  the  2025  Southwest  monsoon seasonal rainfall by mid-April.
- (c)-(d)  Yes.  Various  organisations  under  the  Ministry  of  Earth  Sciences  (MoES)  have  been conducting regular studies on monsoons and associated rainfall and temperature patterns in  the  country,  including  those  during  the  El  Niño  and  La  Niña  periods.  The  India Meteorological  Department continuously  monitors  the  Sea  Surface  Temperature  (SST) changes globally, especially in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, which have a significant impact on the Indian climate. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) also prepares forecasts  based  on  the  Monsoon  Mission  Climate  Forecasting  System  (MMCFS)  and issues  the  El  Niño-Southern  Oscillation  (ENSO)/Indian  Ocean  Dipole  (IOD)  bulletin every  month  (https://www.imdpune.gov.in/cmpg/Product/Enso.php).  IMD  also  issues monthly and seasonal outlooks for rainfall and temperature with monthly updates, which helps  to  prepare  for  the  impact  of  El  Niño/La  Niña-related  weather  variations.  These forecasts are complimented by the extended range forecasts updated every week for the next  four  weeks.  Additionally,  the  IMD  issues  agriculture-specific  advisories  to  help farmers prepare for extreme weather events associated with El Niño and La Niña, such as heavy  rains  or  droughts.  These  advisories  are  helpful  for  decision-making  in  various agriculture  operations,  such  as  crop  selection,  irrigation  practices,  pest  and  disease warnings, disaster management, preparedness, etc.

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