Higher usage of coal is leading to less rainfall

Washington: A new study has found that rapid increase of coal usage in fast-growing Asian countries such as India, may weaken the monsoon systems and reduce the amount of rainfall. Coal mining is responsible for human made Sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions, which drive up concentrations of sulphate aerosols in the atmosphere. These aerosols may also lower surface temperatures by reflecting sunlight skyward.

Coal burning, despite recent signs of having peaked in China and pledges made at the Paris Climate talks in December last year, remains the primary source of electric power in Asia. At one extreme, economic growth and energy demand in China, India and other fast-growing Asian nations would lead to rapid increases in coal use, resulting in more significant climate impacts; at the other, Asia would gradually lessen these impacts by shifting from coal to cleaner burning fuels such as natural gas, and low-carbon energy technologies such as wind turbines and photovoltaics.

Significant cooling would also be felt especially in South and East Asia, researchers said.