About the Author(s)
Nusrat Azeema
Author is an academic and researcher with a strong foundation in Mass Communication, having completed her MPhil in the field. Her research interests focus on the intersection of communication strategies and social development, with a particular emphasis on early childhood development.
Now that the Monsoon season is well underway, the deafening crackle and rumbling boom of lightning have become familiar sounds. We get much-needed rainfall from our summer storms, but have you ever observed that they deliver more than that? After a thunderstorm, the desert and flora in general just look more verdant. The reason behind this is that plants receive a bounty of nutrients when it rains. Lighting is an effective fertilizer. Nitrogen in the air is constantly being transformed into ammonium and nitrate whenever it collides with oxygen or hydrogen. Subsequently, the nitrogen dissolves in the air and is eventually carried away by precipitation. Nitrogen is subsequently taken up by plants from the soil and used for their own growth. Because of its role in chlorophyll, the plant’s green pigment, nitrogen causes the plant to turn green.
Monsoons consistently move from locations with lower temperatures to regions with higher temperatures. The climate of most of India and Southeast Asia is mostly influenced by the summer monsoon and the winter monsoon. A monsoon refers to the periodic alteration in the course of the dominant winds in a particular area. Heavy rainfall is linked to the summer monsoon. Typically occurring from April until September. During the conclusion of winter, countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Myanmar experience the arrival of warm and humid air originating from the southwest Indian Ocean. These places experience a humid environment and heavy rainfall during the summer monsoon. India and Southeast Asia rely heavily on the summer monsoon. Agriculture depends on annual precipitation, such as rainfall. Several regions in these countries lack extensive irrigation systems that encompass lakes, rivers, or locations where snow melts. Aquifers, which are reservoirs of subterranean water, are located at a relatively modest depth. The summer monsoon replenishes wells and aquifers for the remainder of the year. The cultivation of rice and tea is heavily dependent on the occurrence of the summer monsoon. India, being the largest milk producer globally, relies on the monsoon rains to maintain the health and nutrition of cows on dairy farms.
The regional economy takes a hit when the summer monsoon isn’t strong or arrives late. Fewer individuals are able to cultivate their own food, and big agribusinesses are left with nothing to sell. Food imports are a need for governments. A rise in the price of electricity can make development out of reach for all but the wealthiest corporations and individuals. For India, the summer monsoon is like the country’s secret banker.Although it occurs during the summer, the less well-known winter monsoon (October–April) gets more attention. The northeastern wind direction is that of the dry winter monsoon. The air above northwest China and Mongolia is where these winds begin.
The Himalayas block a lot of the monsoon’s wind and moisture from reaching the shore, hence Southeast Asia’s winter monsoons aren’t as strong as their summer counterparts. Southern India and Sri Lanka are warm all year round because the Himalayas block most of the chilly air from reaching those regions. It is not uncommon for droughts to accompany winter monsoons.
Rainwater is unadulterated and uncontaminated. The evaporation of moisture, primarily from the ocean, but also from inland bodies of water, the soil, plants, and even animals, ultimately results in the formation of this substance. When it comes back down to earth, condensation brings it back, but not before it picks up some hitchhikers. A member of this group is sulfur. Rainfall has the potential to supply as much as forty pounds of sulfur per acre on an annual basis. There is a lower concentration of sulfur in our desert environment; nonetheless, it is still significant when it rains. When it comes to the production of plant amino acids, sulfur is an essential individual component.
As per John Begeman mentioned in “Flowers Ornamental Trees and Shrubs”, an average-sized house’s roof can gather up to four thousand gallons of rainwater during a normal monsoon season! Depending on the quantity of barrels you utilize, you have the freedom to collect an unlimited amount of water. The surplus can be let out via an overflow pipe. In the Tucson area, it’s recommended to use one 32-gallon plastic trash can for every six feet of gutter.
Here are some plants which we planted in monsoon, Asparagus plumosus, Bougainvillea, Epipremnum aureum (money plant), Philodendron, Monsteria deliciosa (Swiss cheese plant), Coconut, Sapota (Chikoo), Annona squamosa (Sharifa), Date palms, Guava, Mango, Bauhinia (Kachnaar), Melia azadiracta (Neem), Ficus indica (Banyan), Ficus infectoria (Pakar), Ficus religiosa (Peepul), Moringa pterygosperma (Drumstick tree), Tamarinda indica (Imli), Cassia fistuala (Amaltas) and Poinciana regia (Gul mohr), Pithecellobium dulce (Jangal Jalebi), Tecomella undulata (Lohirro), Salvadora persica (Miswaak), Ziziphus mauritania (Baer), Crateva religiosa (Barna), Prosopis cineraria (Jand), Acacia nilotica (Baboul), Capparis dendua (Kareer), Almond, Gondni, Khirni, Acalypha, Aralia, Clerodendron, Eranthemum and Panix.
Pakistan has a long history of flooding. But the devastating 2022 monsoon season was brought on by the unrelenting rains. There was a tremendous loss of life and property due to the unprecedented rainfall, which severely damaged important infrastructure. Over 1,160 individuals lost their lives and 3,500 were injured between June and August, the height of the monsoon season. Between July 1, 2024, and August 14, 2024, flash floods and heavy rains damaged 1,980 homes, 8 schools, and 30 bridges in Pakistan, killing 182 people and injuring 318.
When there is a lot of rain, trees are like umbrellas because they are able to collect the rainwater in their leaves. Because of this, the flow of water that reaches the ground is slowed down, which in turn reduces the likelihood of flash floods occurring as a result of overflowing waterways. Because of the delay, a portion of the water is able to evaporate back into the atmosphere without ever coming into contact with the ground’s surface. By absorbing precipitation, slowing its flow, and decreasing erosion, trees and woods significantly contribute to flood control. Many towns have to deal with the tragic realities of flooding. Because they absorb precipitation, moderate its flow, and lessen erosion, trees can help lessen the likelihood of flooding.
The suitability of certain tree species and their placement is crucial in order to maximize flood protection effects and ensure the long-term survival of the plantings. Planting large, weighty tree species in close proximity to waterways might worsen the risk of flooding. Conversely, selecting tree species that offer advantages for food security and livelihoods, such as those that produce harvestable fruit, can increase the likelihood of local support and protection. Therefore, it is essential to engage in collaborative efforts with pertinent stakeholders, including councils, civil society organizations, and local communities, when developing flood-protection planting programs.
