Investigation of orographic features influencing spatial distribution of rainfall over the Western Ghats of India using satellite data

A study reveals that the Western Ghats of India experience enhanced orographic precipitation, particularly on the windward side of Karnataka, during the summer monsoon. This increase is influenced by topography, including cascaded mountain structures, elevated summits, and gradually increasing slopes, with rainfall peaking before the mountain apex and tapering off at around 800 meters altitude. The research used TRMM 3B42 satellite rainfall data validated against IMD gridded data to analyze spatial patterns of monsoon rainfall over a 14-year period, identifying areas prone to heavy and very heavy precipitation events (thresholds: >150 mm/day for very heavy, 120-150 mm/day for heavy). These findings provide critical insights for hazard management and improving weather predictions in mountainous terrains.

Tawde, S. A., & Singh, C. (2014). Investigation of orographic features influencing spatial distribution of rainfall over the Western Ghats of India using satellite data. International Journal of Climatology, 35(9), 2280–2293. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.4146