Tropical cyclones enhance photosynthesis in moisture-stressed regions of India

Abstract We unravel the response of terrestrial ecosystems in India to Tropical Cyclones (TCs) originating in the North Indian Ocean (NIO). We find that about 34.6% of TCs drove greening and 65.4% caused browning response of vegetation during 2000–2020. TC-induced greening is more likely for TCs ori...

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Main Authors: Rahul Kashyap, Jayanarayanan Kuttippurath
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:npj Climate and Atmospheric Science
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-025-00988-z
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author Rahul Kashyap
Jayanarayanan Kuttippurath
author_facet Rahul Kashyap
Jayanarayanan Kuttippurath
author_sort Rahul Kashyap
collection DOAJ
description Abstract We unravel the response of terrestrial ecosystems in India to Tropical Cyclones (TCs) originating in the North Indian Ocean (NIO). We find that about 34.6% of TCs drove greening and 65.4% caused browning response of vegetation during 2000–2020. TC-induced greening is more likely for TCs originated in pre-monsoon (100%) or monsoon (62.5%) than post-monsoon with large browning response (94%). Rainfall by TCs increases soil moisture (SM) and reduces climatic water deficit (CWD) for a moisture-stressed region, and its effective utilisation by vegetation triggers the greening response. Granger Causality reveals that TC-induced rain and greening response exhibit a maximum temporal lag of 40 days. The favourable vegetation response to TCs is a new insight as it sheds light on the complex Atmosphere-Land-Ocean (ALO) interactions on a regional scale. The findings can aid to improve climate models for better policy decisions aimed at climate adaptation and sustainability on both regional and global scales.
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institution Kabale University
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spelling doaj-art-91344648131c446d8fd73523345ebd602025-08-20T03:41:49ZengNature Portfolionpj Climate and Atmospheric Science2397-37222025-03-018111610.1038/s41612-025-00988-zTropical cyclones enhance photosynthesis in moisture-stressed regions of IndiaRahul Kashyap0Jayanarayanan Kuttippurath1CORAL, Indian Institute of Technology KharagpurCORAL, Indian Institute of Technology KharagpurAbstract We unravel the response of terrestrial ecosystems in India to Tropical Cyclones (TCs) originating in the North Indian Ocean (NIO). We find that about 34.6% of TCs drove greening and 65.4% caused browning response of vegetation during 2000–2020. TC-induced greening is more likely for TCs originated in pre-monsoon (100%) or monsoon (62.5%) than post-monsoon with large browning response (94%). Rainfall by TCs increases soil moisture (SM) and reduces climatic water deficit (CWD) for a moisture-stressed region, and its effective utilisation by vegetation triggers the greening response. Granger Causality reveals that TC-induced rain and greening response exhibit a maximum temporal lag of 40 days. The favourable vegetation response to TCs is a new insight as it sheds light on the complex Atmosphere-Land-Ocean (ALO) interactions on a regional scale. The findings can aid to improve climate models for better policy decisions aimed at climate adaptation and sustainability on both regional and global scales.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-025-00988-z
spellingShingle Rahul Kashyap
Jayanarayanan Kuttippurath
Tropical cyclones enhance photosynthesis in moisture-stressed regions of India
npj Climate and Atmospheric Science
title Tropical cyclones enhance photosynthesis in moisture-stressed regions of India
title_full Tropical cyclones enhance photosynthesis in moisture-stressed regions of India
title_fullStr Tropical cyclones enhance photosynthesis in moisture-stressed regions of India
title_full_unstemmed Tropical cyclones enhance photosynthesis in moisture-stressed regions of India
title_short Tropical cyclones enhance photosynthesis in moisture-stressed regions of India
title_sort tropical cyclones enhance photosynthesis in moisture stressed regions of india
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-025-00988-z
work_keys_str_mv AT rahulkashyap tropicalcyclonesenhancephotosynthesisinmoisturestressedregionsofindia
AT jayanarayanankuttippurath tropicalcyclonesenhancephotosynthesisinmoisturestressedregionsofindia