Climate Change Manifestations on Kerala's Fragile Landscape During Heavy Monsoons: Causes, Impacts and Remedies JOHN KURIEN

Climate Change Manifestations on Kerala's Fragile Landscape During Heavy Monsoons: Causes, Impacts and Remedies 

John Kurien 
Earth Scientist 
3/08/2026

Introduction 

Kerala, occupying barely 1.2% of India's geographical area, is one of the country's most ecologically diverse and environmentally fragile states. Stretching between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats, it is characterized by steep mountain slopes, undulating midlands and narrow coastal plains. This unique physiography, coupled with intense monsoon rainfall, makes Kerala highly vulnerable to climate change. In recent decades, the State has witnessed a sharp increase in extreme rainfall events, devastating floods, landslides, coastal erosion and ecological degradation. These disasters are not merely natural phenomena but the outcome of a changing climate interacting with fragile geology and increasing human interference.

Climate Change and Changing Monsoon Behaviour. 

Scientific observations indicate that the Arabian Sea has warmed significantly over the past few decades. A warmer sea surface increases evaporation, resulting in greater atmospheric moisture. During the southwest monsoon, this excess moisture often forms deep convective cloud systems such as towering cumulonimbus clouds instead of the widespread stratiform rain clouds associated with normal monsoon conditions.

These vertically developed clouds contain enormous quantities of water vapour and produce intense rainfall over short durations, commonly referred to as cloudbursts or extreme precipitation events. Consequently, rainfall that would normally occur over several days may now fall within a few hours, overwhelming river basins, reservoirs and drainage systems.

Climate change has therefore altered not only the quantity of rainfall but also its temporal and spatial distribution. Long dry spells are frequently interrupted by short periods of exceptionally heavy rainfall.

Kerala's Physiographic Fragility 

Kerala consists of three distinct physiographic regions:

The Western Ghats (highlands), rising to over 2,600 metres.

The undulating midlands.

The low-lying coastal plains.

Nearly forty-four west-flowing rivers originate in the Western Ghats and descend rapidly to the Arabian Sea. Because these rivers are generally short and steep, they carry enormous volumes of runoff during heavy rainfall. Their limited length provides little opportunity for floodwaters to spread gradually, resulting in flash floods downstream.

The State also contains extensive backwaters, lakes, reservoirs and numerous dams, which together form an intricate water management network. However, extreme rainfall frequently exceeds their storage and discharge capacities.

Geological and Ecological Factors 

The Western Ghats are composed predominantly of ancient crystalline rocks such as charnockites and gneisses. Over millions of years these rocks have undergone deep weathering, producing thick layers of soil and weathered overburden on hill slopes.

Under normal conditions, vegetation stabilizes these slopes through extensive root systems. However, when rainfall exceeds the soil's storage capacity, water infiltrates into the weathered mantle, increasing pore-water pressure and reducing slope stability. The weakened soil mass may then slide over the underlying bedrock, causing landslides.

Large-scale conversion of natural forests into monoculture plantations such as rubber, tea, coffee and cardamom has further reduced slope stability. Road construction, quarrying, unscientific hill cutting and expanding settlements have accelerated environmental degradation.

Climate Change and Extreme Rainfall 

Recent decades have witnessed an increasing frequency of high-intensity rainfall events in Kerala. Atmospheric disturbances over the Arabian Sea, low-pressure systems and occasional cyclonic circulations further intensify moisture transport towards the Western Ghats.

When these moisture-laden air masses encounter the mountain barrier, rapid uplift results in intense orographic rainfall. Climate change is amplifying this process by increasing atmospheric moisture content and atmospheric instability.

Consequently, many landslides now occur after only a few hours of exceptionally heavy rainfall rather than prolonged seasonal rainfall.

Ecological Sensitivity 

Several districts, particularly Wayanad, Idukki, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Kozhikode and Malappuram, contain highly fragile slopes susceptible to landslides. Ecologically sensitive landscapes require scientific land-use planning based on geology, slope gradient, drainage characteristics and vegetation cover.

Modern remote sensing, GIS mapping and satellite monitoring can identify vulnerable zones well before disasters occur.

Disaster Preparedness 

Kerala has significantly strengthened its disaster management framework following the devastating floods of 2018. Early warning systems, weather forecasting, reservoir management, landslide monitoring and community awareness programmes have improved considerably.

Meteorological agencies now issue district-level rainfall warnings, while disaster management authorities coordinate evacuation, emergency response and relief operations. Nevertheless, greater public compliance with evacuation orders and stronger coordination among departments remain essential.

Sustainable Remedies 

Reducing disaster risk requires both climate adaptation and ecological conservation.

Major priorities include:

Protection and restoration of natural forests in the Western Ghats.

Strict regulation of quarrying and hill cutting.

Scientific land-use planning based on ecological sensitivity.

Improved drainage and watershed management.

Stabilization of vulnerable slopes through bioengineering and afforestation.

Continuous monitoring of rainfall, soil moisture and slope movement.

Reservoir operation based on scientific flood forecasting.

Climate-resilient agriculture with diversified cropping systems.

Strengthening community-based disaster preparedness and early warning dissemination.

At the national and global levels, reducing greenhouse gas emissions remains essential to limit further warming of the Arabian Sea and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events.

Conclusion 

Kerala's remarkable natural beauty is inseparable from its ecological fragility. Climate change is transforming the southwest monsoon by increasing the frequency of short-duration, high-intensity rainfall events that trigger floods and landslides. These hazards are intensified by deforestation, inappropriate land use, quarrying and unplanned development on vulnerable slopes.

The future resilience of Kerala depends upon integrating climate science, geological understanding, ecosystem conservation and responsible governance. Protecting the Western Ghats, restoring degraded landscapes, strengthening disaster preparedness and promoting sustainable development are no longer optional—they are essential for safeguarding lives, livelihoods and the State's unique natural heritage. Climate change cannot be completely prevented at the State level, but its impacts can be substantially reduced through science-based planning, ecological stewardship and collective public responsibility.
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19 years ago John Kurien had retired from NABARD. He was CGM at that time. We have been good friends for the past 15 years. To me , he has appeared a 'no nonsense' man. 

This morning he forwarded to me this excellent article with a comment

'News paper did not come today at 5 am.So this'

I was stunned when I read it. The statments, arguments and the clarity in expression were pulsating. He didn't stop there. He has outlined how to overcome the  ecological disaster which is imminent.

I rang him up and asked, "Whether it was his own creation or a consolidation of downloads."

He response was, "I hope you are aware that I worked for 13 yrs in Govt.of India as an earth scientist and hydrogeologist with GSI and CGWB,Min.of Earth Science and Water Resources and thereafter 24 yrs as a development banker from the inception of NABARD

So basic education in earth science and it's practical application in Project Financing and Rural Infrastructure will always linger on

That's why I respond to ecological concerns when natural resources management goes  to hazards   through human intervention too."

I advised him, "You must ask the newspaper man to deliver it late by two hours minimum everyday."

AWESOME - MOTIVATIONAL TOO

 

Our close relative, Jeevan George, called on us recently. He  invited us to the marriage of his son. 

As we conversed, he quietly revealed  he had been through an accident a couple of months ago that had partially disabled his mobility.

But he said, though a phone call was enough, he was resolute he had to  invite us in person, pushing aside the sitfling impairment.

We respected him for that.

A walking stick was propping him up.

Soon after he left, I wrote to him 

"Achayan here.

Thank you for the visit and the invitation

And thank you for sparing your precious time

Grateful, you were good enough to accept the book A WALK THROUGH THE RAIN, we had presented."

Jeevan responded with a sticker.

I acknowledged the next day

"Thank you for the sticker. It tells me you have been through my message

Thanks for that

Yesterday evening and this morning we were thinking about you together.

I was telling Aswathy, I was wonderstruck at the transition of the boy I met when we had visited Kunjumonachayan at his  Quarters at Thampanoor soon after our Marriage. You were just an ordinary boy, an engineering student. 

One thing  we both liked about Kunjumonachayan, Kochamma, Jose and Jeevan was, you all were overflowing with love and affection whenever and wherever we met. 

Happy you still maintain that.

Something many cast to the wind as they ascend higher and higher.

Yes, scanning through your history on that little visiting card, we had the feeling we had no right to be on the same wavelength with you. 

You are indeed special.

Yet humility drives you. Else you wouldn't have bothered to extend a personal invitation.

Now, one suggestion

Please write the experiences of your current struggle.

It'll be an eye opener for many

Please draw inspiration from the book WHEN BREATH BECOMES AIR by Paul Kalanithi who grew up from age 10 in the arid deserts of Arizona.

Please go ahead. 

Be the light"

When I shared the messages with Aswathy, she quipped

"Awesome is the least that can be commented.

Motivational too"

EXCELLENT STORY

 Excellent Story

An Indian professor visited Russia to study its education system.

During his visit, he came across something that left him completely puzzled.

In  Russia,  the  highest  score  in  an  exam  was  5.

That was understandable.

But  what  shocked  him  was  this:

Even  a  completely  blank  answer  sheet  received  2  marks.

A  blank  paper.

Two  marks.

The  professor  could  not  believe  it.

Surely,  a  student  who  writes  nothing  deserves  zero?

The  question  stayed  in  his  mind  until  he  finally  asked  a  senior  Russian  educator.

"How  can  you  give  marks  to  someone  who  has  written  absolutely  nothing?"

The  educator  smiled.

Then  he  gave  an  answer  the  professor  never  forgot.

"Zero means non-existence. As long as a student is standing in front of me, how can I call him zero?"

The professor was silent.

The educator continued.

"Perhaps that child woke up before sunrise."

"Perhaps he travelled through snow and freezing weather."

"Perhaps he studied but became nervous."

"Perhaps he tried and failed."

"But how can one bad day erase all the effort that brought him here?"

Then he said something even more powerful.

"A teacher's job is not to convince a child that he is nothing. A teacher's job is to help him believe he can stand up and try again."

The professor later admitted that this conversation changed the way he looked at education.

And perhaps it changes the way we should look at people too.

How quickly we give labels.

Failure.

Average.

Not good enough.

Finished.

But a person is never equal to one result.

One exam cannot measure a life.

One mistake cannot define a future.

One bad chapter cannot decide the entire story.

Some of the most successful people in the world have failed interviews, lost businesses, repeated exams, and faced rejection after rejection.l

What kept them moving was not talent alone.

It was hope.

And sometimes all a person needs is someone who refuses to give up on them.

The next time you see someone struggling, remember this Russian teacher.

Instead of asking, "Why did you fail?"

Perhaps ask, "How can I help you try again?"

Because people grow best not when they are judged, but when they are encouraged.

This is a WhatsApp forward. Placing it here as it carries an excellent message.

EVANA COLOURS A DRAWING

                                                   EVANA COLOURS A DRAWING

                                           

SPAIN DEBRIEFS

The Times of India of 16 July 2026 reports on.    Spain's victory against France in                               the World Cup Semifinal

Cruyff Returns - Spain played - the world watched - Spain's Tactical Masterclass - Shuts Down France

It was the unmistakable shadow of Johan Cruyff's foundational work in Spain's collective assertion on France.

The Spain Caoch says,"We have an exceptional generation of footballers. I am constantly surprised by what this team can do. The margin for improvement is infinite.We've recaptured the spirit of 2010."

The current members of the team from Spain were more tactically disciplined and less positionally anarchic than Cruyff's revolutionary Dutch team of 1974.

But they demonstrated how the core ideals of Total football - technical excellence, intelligent movement, collective pressing and territorial dominance - continue to thrive, more than half a century later. 

Rodri explained it further,"We showed the character we have in the team and how mature we are in big moments. In certain moments and in big moments, and this is for me the most important thing, to wait for your moments, to not get crazy if they punish you, because they are a very good team. Composure is the key of our team."

Spain were in control from the start and France trailed for the first time in the tournament. 

The reputation of France meant little to Spain.

The Spain Coach, Luis de la Fuente describes,"Today we faced one of the best squads in the world. But in front of them(France) they faced the best team in the world. That was the difference. These players deserve everything because day by day they demonstrate their commitment, their solidarity, their talent. It's a pleasure to see them play. Today they gave us a masterclass."

Rodri concludes,"It means a lot. We have only been to the World Cup final twice.in our history. It's so difficult to arrive here. But we want to win the World Cup. We need to rest, see where we can improve and we can expect an even tougher game in the next one."

It was tough in the final. It was 120 minutes of scintillating football where Argentina could do nothing against Spain's brilliance and dominance.

Spain did it in style.

They lifted the 2026 World Cup 

WORLD CUP - SPAIN RIDES TO CHAMPIONSHIP TWICE - SIXTEEN YEARS APART

 WORLD CUP - SPAIN RIDES TO CHAMPIONSHIP TWICE -  SIXTEEN YEARS APART

GEOMETRY, TRIANGLES AND TACTICAL NUANCES - THE KEYS

The final match of the 1974 FIFA World Cup was held in Munich, West Germany                    (now Germany).. It was the 10th FIFA World Cup competition. It was between                        The Netherlands and West Germany, the hosts. 

West Germany won the game 2 - 1.

The Netherlands opened the scoring via a Johan Neeskens penalty in the second minute. Paul Breitner equalised the score with another penalty in the 25th minute. Gerd Muller scored the winning goal in the 43rd minute claiming West Germany's second FIFA World Cup title. 

The captain of the Netherlands during the 1974 FIFA  World Cup was the legendary Johan Cruyff. He wore the iconic number 14 jersey. He led the team to the tournament's final and won the Golden ball as the the best player of the competition, scoring three goals and providing three assists.

Cruyff was the centrepiece of manager Rinus Michel's revolutionary tactical system -              Total Football.

Those were the days the television was yet to become universal in India. We followed major events on the Radio. I still remember following the World Cup in 1974 on the Radio and the astounding march of the Netherlands captained by Johan Cruyff to the final. 

The concept of 'Total Football' was quite new to football at that time.

If we put it succinctly, Cruyff and his team had pulverised or in other words steamrollered the opposition with their innovative brand of 'Total Football.' The stride resembled the march of France to the Semifinal of the World Cup 2026. They were so authentic we could see the rest of the competitors was no match for their style of play. We felt they'd walk away with the trophy. No they didn't. There roller coaster ride was halted by Spain who laid emphasis on possession football. In fact a TV commentator had aired," Spain does best in holding the ball."

There was a time when Spain was not a big name in football though they had famous clubs. But the arrival of Johan Cruyff in Catalonia first as a player and later as the coach of              FC Barcelona had revolutionised football in Spain.

Cruyff brought the triangle into play in Spanish Football. His obsession with possession  - he knew his team had lost to West Germany in 1974 due to the neglect of possession football in their all consuming Total Football - led him to develop a model based on traingles. It meant, regardless of his position on the pitch, a player has to position himself to keep forming geometric shapes, thus enabling him to offer a teammate more than one passing option. 

The Dutch legend, who had been the focal point of Rinus Michel's Total Football, had once said, "It isn't the man on the ball who decides where the ball goes, but the players without the ball." ..

Cruyff sprinkled the stardust of this idea across Spanish football's mind space and went on to form his dream team project. 

It has now changed hands - from Pep Guardiola to Vicente del Bosque to Luis Enrique to Luis de la Fuente who had recently led Spain to its Second World Cup in 2026, 16 years after the first in 2010.

The triumph of Geometry has been the calling card in Spain, synonymous with the advent of Johan Cruyff in Spanish football. It has provoked debate, entertained and even annoyed its audience, but has never been abandoned. While Tiki Taka had led to the initial triumph of Spain 16 years ago in 2010, an improved version of Tiki Taka had powered them to victory in the final in 2026.

Unfotunately, France, who were the overwhelming favourites, had run into Spain in their dazzling best at the most inappropriate time. They had been outthought and outfought in every aspect of the game.

In the face of Spain's passing masterclass with all those manifestations of Euclidian Geometry, Mbappe with his ethereal speed was sucked into the surrounding nothingness, stuck in a stagnant space. To put it plainly, France were totally unaware what had hit them.

Spain is a team that is easiest to analyse but always the hardest to defeat with their innovative and dynamic football. It is a team that is infused with the winner's mentality. 

There are times when art doesn't have to defeat anyone. This is when the game elevates itself and transcends the result.

With inputs from Nilesh Bhattacharya in The Times of India of 16 July 2026

COMMONWEALTH GAMES 2026 GLASGOW DISCUS THROW SEEMA KALIRAMNA WINS BRONZE

SEEMA KALIRAMNA WINS BRONZE - DISCUS THROW - COMMONWEALTH GAMES 2026 GLASGOW

Seema Kaliramna narrates how she took to athletics:

"I was not interested in sports. But my PT teachers used to ask me to get the discus from the store room. One day I just threw the discus and it fell at a good distance. When my PT teacher saw that, he asked me to start training in discus throw."

"But my actual interest grew when I started getting water bottles, slippers and chocolates as awards for my wins at the school level meets."

And see where it landed her.

The Haryana discus thrower,27, mother of a four year old, pursuing PhD in Physical Education, hailing from Bhiwani, threw the discus at Glasgow in the 2026 Commonwealth games to the Bronze Medal, reaching 58.65m in her third attempt. It was a great effort especially when the Gold and the Silver went to throws of 61.66m and 60.67m respectively.

When queried how she felt, she said,"It is such a good feeling.  I feel all the hardships that we had gone through as a family in the last few years have been compensated with the gift in the form of a medal."

As she stated, it was 'Gifts' that had made her stick on to athletics.

Her parents had extended special treatment to her when she started winning medals while at school. She confides,"We are three siblings and because I started competing, my mother began making me milkshakes and my father made sure we never ran out oranges and other fruits."

However, her parents married her off six years after she had picked up the discus, ignoring that she had been progressing well through various levels in the sport.

But her husband had different ideas. 

"Though I was married, the training didn't stop. My husband took me to the ground the next after our wedding."

An year after getting married, just before the Covid lockdown began, Seema suffered a knee injury..

"The doctors said I needed surgery, but we wanted some rest. And while we took the break,we thought of utilising the time by planning our baby."

Seema Kaliramna is all praise for her husband who has been helping her with the training.

"He is my physio, my coach, my masseur along with being my husband."

Seema has just begun. 

She can go a long way.

Based on report in the Times of India of 1 August 2026