🔆 Key Takeaways: Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) and Indian Monsoon ✅ What is MJO? • A moving system of winds, clouds, and pressure circulating eastward near the equator. • Discovered in 1971 by Roland Madden and Paul Julian. • Crucial for tropical rainfall patterns, including the Indian monsoon. ✅ Structure and Movement: • Moves eastward at 4–8 m/s, completing a cycle every 30–60 days (sometimes up to 90 days). • Two phases: • Active Phase: Brings rainfall and storms. • Suppressed Phase: Causes below-average rainfall. ✅ Relevance to Indian Monsoon: • Strongly influences monsoon onset and intensity, especially during active phase. • Early 2024 monsoon onset (May 24 Kerala, May 26 Mumbai) partly due to strong MJO. ✅ Cyclone and Rainfall Connection: • Active MJO triggers tropical cyclones, supporting monsoon initiation (e.g., June 2015 had 20 days of rain linked to MJO). ✅ Interaction with El Niño: • MJO and El Niño may coincide but are not causally linked; both affect rainfall unpredictably. ✅ Geographical Impact: • Influences weather between 30°N and 30°S; India lies in this zone, making it vulnerable to MJO-driven rainfall variations. #climate #monsoon