PUNE, May 26: The El Nino phenomenon, which generated several controversies over its said impact on the southwest monsoon last year and the subsequent unseasonal rainfall in the month of October and November, found a special mention in this year's long range forecast.While the meteorology department maintained its stand that it did have a severe impact on the Indian monsoon and that the monsoon '97 was normal, the department at the same time acknowledged its importance as one of the important 16 parameters of long range forecast.
The forecast mentioned that although since December 1997, the warming over the Pacific ocean has been gradually decreasing the El Nino episode is likely to persist during the first half of the 1998 monsoon season.
``This factor would therefore have to be continuously monitored for its concurrent influences over the monsoon rainfall,'' stated the forecast.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
