TheHH: adding basic details with sources

2025-10-13T15:44:23Z

adding basic details with sources

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{{Short description|none}} 
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}}
[[File:Jogmonsoon.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Heavy rains show the full might of [[Jog Falls]] in [[Shimog district]]]]

The state of [[Karnataka]] in [[India]] experiences diverse rainfall quantities across its regions. While [[Malnad]] and [[Kanara|Coastal]] Karnataka receive copious amount of rainfall; its north [[Bayaluseemae]] region in the [[Deccan Plateau]] is one of the most arid regions in the country. Most of the rains received in the state is during the [[monsoon]] season. Being an agrarian economy with a large percentage of its citizens engaged in agriculture, the failure of rains can have a crippling effect on the economy of the state. Apart from the benefits in agriculture, the [[Government of Karnataka]] has tried to avail other benefits of rainfall using scientific methods. An example of this is the project, ''Rainwater Harvesting in Rural Karnataka'' which is initiated by the Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology and is one of the largest [[rainwater harvesting]] projects in the world.<ref name="rh">{{cite web|url=http://www.ias.ac.in/currsci/jan252007/161.pdf|work=Current Science, VOL. 92, NO. 2, 25 JANUARY 2007|publisher=Online webpage of Indian Academy of Sciences|author=A. R. Shivakumar|title=World's largest rainwater harvesting project in Karnataka|access-date=2007-06-25}}</ref> [[Agumbe]] in the [[Shimoga district]], [[Amagaon]] in [[Belgaum|Belgaum District]], [[Hulikal]] again in Shimoga district and [[Talakaveri]] in [[Madikeri]] are some of the known places with the highest annual rainfall in South India. Of this Amagaon has received over 10000 mm rain fall twice in 10 years. Naravi is a village in Belthangady taluk also a highest raining village in karnataka but scientifically not recorded.

[[Agumbe]] and [[Hulikal]] in Shivamogga District of Western Ghat region is considered as "Cheerapunji of South India" but still some places in Western Ghats region had resulted much more rainfall than these two villages. [[Amagaon]] in Belgaum District recorded magical number of 10,068mm in the year 2010, Mundrote in [[Kodagu district]] recorded 9974mm in the year 2011.

The table below compares rainfall between Agumbe in Thirthahalli taluk in Shimoga district, Hulikal in Hosanagara taluk in Shimoga district, Amagaon in Khanapur Taluk in Belgaum district and Talacauvery and Mundrote in Madikeri taluk in Kodagu district, Kokalli of Sirsi Taluk, Nilkund of Siddapur Taluk, CastleRock of Supa (Joida) Taluk in Uttara Kannada District, Kollur in Udupi District to show which one can be called the "[[Cherrapunji]] of South India".
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Hulikal Rainfall (mm)
! Agumbe Rainfall (mm)
! Amagaon Rainfall (mm)
! Talacauvery Rainfall (mm) <ref>Amagaon has got over 10,000 mm annual rainfall twice in the five years (2006-2010). The exact amount of rainfall is not available. See [http://www.deccanherald.com/pages.php?id=271493 Amagaon is now Cherrapunji of South] from ''DeccanHerald.com'' accessed 23 March 2013</ref>
!Kokalli Rainfall (mm)
!Nilkund Rainfall (mm)
!Castle Rock Rainfall (mm)
!Mundrote Rainfall (mm)
!Kollur Rainfall (mm)
|-
| 2017
| 5,700
| 6,311
| 4,733
| 5,859
|3130
|4981
|5560
|1002
|5203
|-
| 2016
| 5,721
| 6,449
| 4,705
| 5,430
|2682
|4655
|4968
|1458
|3496
|-
| 2015
| 6,035
| 5,518
| 4,013
| 5,319
|2730
|4367
|3667
|3143
|4254
|-
| 2014
| 7,907
| 7,917
| 5,580
| 7,844
|8746
|6710
|5956
|5566
|3308
|-
| 2013
| 9,383
| 8,770
| 8,440
| 8,628
|4464
|7082
|3667
|7199
|6614
|-
| 2012
| 8,409
| 6,933
| 5,987
| 5,722
|5036
|5398
|6165
|3727
|6715
|-
| 2011
| 8,523
| 7,921
| 9,368
| 6,855
|4437
|6593
|7083
|9974
|7083
|-
| 2010
| 7,717
| 6,929
| 10,068
| 6,794
|4002
| -
| -
|5042
|7685
|-
| 2009
| 8,357
| 7,982
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
|
|
|-
| 2008
| 7,115
| 7,199
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
|
|
|-
| 2007
| 9,038
| 8,255
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
|
|
|-
| 2006
| 8,656
| 8,457
| -
| -
| -<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://des.kar.nic.in/sites/ANNUAL%20RAINFALL%202014.pdf|title=Govt of Karnataka Rainfall Statistics (Kokalli)|website=DES|access-date=19 March 2019|archive-date=11 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170311130816/http://des.kar.nic.in/sites/ANNUAL%20RAINFALL%202014.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://des.kar.nic.in/|title=Rainfall Statistics of Karnataka|website=DES Karnataka|access-date=19 March 2019|archive-date=26 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161126191613/http://des.kar.nic.in/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| -
| -
|
|
|}

The following were the top 5 places that recorded highest rainfall in statistics [2010-2017] <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://des.kar.nic.in/sites/ANNUAL%20RAINFALL%202014.pdf|title=Rainfall Statistics for Kokalli (Ajjimane)|website=DES Karnataka|access-date=19 March 2019|archive-date=11 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170311130816/http://des.kar.nic.in/sites/ANNUAL%20RAINFALL%202014.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://des.kar.nic.in/sites/RAINFALL%202010.pdf|title=Rainfall Statistics for Amagaon|website=DES Karnataka|access-date=19 March 2019|archive-date=17 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217030241/http://des.kar.nic.in/sites/RAINFALL%202010.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://des.kar.nic.in/sites/ANNUAL%20rainfall%20%202011.pdf|title=Rainfall Statistics for Mundrote|website=DES Karnataka|access-date=19 March 2019|archive-date=19 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219130053/http://des.kar.nic.in/sites/ANNUAL%20rainfall%20%202011.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://des.kar.nic.in/sites/ANNUAL%202013.pdf|title=Rainfall Statistics for Agumbe and Hulikal|website=DES karnataka|access-date=19 March 2019|archive-date=24 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224014057/http://des.kar.nic.in/sites/ANNUAL%202013.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Rank
!Hobli/Village
!District
!Taluk
!Year
!Rainfall in mm
!Elevation in metres
|-
|1
|[[Amagaon]]
|[[Belgaum district]]
|[[Khanapur]]
|2010
|10,068
|785
|-
|2
|Mundrote
|[[Kodagu district]]/[[Coorg District]]
|[[Madikeri]]
|2011
|9,974
|585
|-
|3
|[[Hulikal]]
|[[Shimoga district]]
|[[Hosanagara]]
|2013
|9,383
|614
|-
|4
|[[Agumbe]]
|[[Shimoga district]]
|[[Thirthahalli]]
|2013
|8,770
|643
|-
|5
|Kokalli/Kakalli
|[[Uttara Kannada]]
|[[Sirsi, Karnataka|Sirsi]]
|2014
|8,746
|780
|}The following places recorded highest rainfall with respect to each year [2010-2017]
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Place
!Taluk
!District
!Rainfall in mm
!Elevation
|-
|2017
|[[Agumbe]]
|[[Thirthahalli]]
|[[Shimoga district]]
|6,311
|634
|-
|2016
|Agumbe
|[[Thirthahalli]]
|[[Shimoga district]]
|6,449
|634
|-
|2015
|Hulikal
|[[Hosanagara]]
|[[Shimoga district]]
|6,035
|614
|-
|2014
|Kokalli
|[[Sirsi, Karnataka|Sirsi]]
|[[Uttara Kannada]]
|8,746
|780
|-
|2013
|Hulikal
|[[Hosanagara]]
|[[Shimoga district]]
|9,383
|614
|-
|2012
|Hulikal
|[[Hosanagara]]
|[[Shimoga district]]
|8,409
|614
|-
|2011
|Mundrote
|[[Madikeri]]
|[[Kodagu district]]
|9,974
|585
|-
|2010
|Amagaon
|[[Khanapur]]
|[[Belgaum district]]
|10,068
|785
|}
<br />
<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://des.kar.nic.in/sites/ANNUAL%20RAINFALL%202014.pdf|title=Govt of Karnataka Rainfall Statistics (Kokalli)|website=DES|access-date=19 March 2019|archive-date=11 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170311130816/http://des.kar.nic.in/sites/ANNUAL%20RAINFALL%202014.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://des.kar.nic.in/|title=Rainfall Statistics of Karnataka|website=DES Karanataka|access-date=19 March 2019|archive-date=26 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161126191613/http://des.kar.nic.in/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://des.kar.nic.in/sites/ANNUAL%20RAINFALL%202014.pdf|title=Rainfall Statistics for Kokalli (Ajjimane)|website=DES Karnataka|access-date=19 March 2019|archive-date=11 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170311130816/http://des.kar.nic.in/sites/ANNUAL%20RAINFALL%202014.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://des.kar.nic.in/sites/RAINFALL%202010.pdf|title=Rainfall Statistics for Amagaon|website=DES Karnataka|access-date=19 March 2019|archive-date=17 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217030241/http://des.kar.nic.in/sites/RAINFALL%202010.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://des.kar.nic.in/sites/ANNUAL%20rainfall%20%202011.pdf|title=Rainfall Statistics for Mundrote|website=DES Karnataka|access-date=19 March 2019|archive-date=19 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219130053/http://des.kar.nic.in/sites/ANNUAL%20rainfall%20%202011.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://des.kar.nic.in/sites/ANNUAL%202013.pdf|title=Rainfall Statistics for Agumbe and Hulikal|website=DES karnataka|access-date=19 March 2019|archive-date=24 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224014057/http://des.kar.nic.in/sites/ANNUAL%202013.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Importance==
The economy of Karnataka is mainly agrarian and most of it is dependent on the rainfall; mainly the [[southwest monsoon]]. The extent of arid land in the state is second only to Rajasthan.<ref name="excel">{{cite web|url=http://planningcommission.nic.in/plans/stateplan/sdr_pdf/shdr_kar05.pdf|title=Karnataka Human Development Report 2005|work=Online webpage of the Planning Commission|publisher=Government of India|access-date=2007-06-26}}</ref> Only 26.5% of sown area (30,900 km²) is subjected to [[irrigation]] and hence the rest of the cultivated land is entirely dependent on rainfall.<ref name="stats">{{cite web|url=http://raitamitra.kar.nic.in/Agri%20Policy%20Eng.pdf|title=Karnataka Agricultural Policy 2006|work=Online webpage of Department of Agriculture|publisher=Government of Karnataka|access-date=2007-06-26|archive-date=15 June 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070615001645/http://raitamitra.kar.nic.in/Agri%20Policy%20Eng.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> Rainfall also influences the quantity of water available in the rivers which in turn influences the amount of drinking water available to the population and the amount of electricity that can be generated in the [[hydroelectric]] power stations in the state. The importance of rainfall is such that Karnataka sometimes had to resort to costly artificial methods like [[cloud seeding]] in order to induce rain artificially.<ref name="cls">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2003/09/21/stories/2003092102930400.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040122050656/http://www.hindu.com/2003/09/21/stories/2003092102930400.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2004-01-22|title= Cloud-seeding experts counsel patience|author=B Chandrashekhar|date=2003-09-21|access-date=2007-06-26|work=[[The Hindu]]|location=Chennai, India}}</ref> Rainfall is also crucial to recharge the depleting [[ground water]] and Karnataka has come up with innovative methods like [[rainwater harvesting]] in order to solve the drinking [[water scarcity]] in the state.

===Rainwater harvesting===
Karnataka is a pioneer in the concept of [[rainwater harvesting]] with The Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology (KSCST) implementing one of the largest [[rainwater harvesting]] projects in the world. 23683 schools in rural Karnataka were selected for this project with the main goal of providing drinking water by using the method of rooftop harvesting.<ref name="rh"/> In this project, rainwater collected on the rooftop is channeled through a system of [[PVC]] pipes and stored in an enclosed surface tank. The pipeline consists of a first-flush filter which flushes out the first rainfall along with other contaminants that may exist on the roof and then subsequent cleaner rainwater is allowed to pass on to the tank. A sand bed filter is used to further eliminate impurities in the water before it gets collected in the tank.<ref name="rh"/> Further precautions are taken to prevent dust and insects from entering the tank.

==Consequences==

===Deficient rainfall===
A year of deficient rainfall leads to the following consequences:
* Agricultural output will be impacted: While this has a direct impact on the economy of the state, it also leads to other social issues like the suicide of farmers. Due to the crop failure, the farmers would not be in a position to repay the loans they had taken for agriculture and few of them take an extreme step of suicide.<ref name="sui">{{cite web|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2020/stories/20031010003810800.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100305040617/http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2020/stories/20031010003810800.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=5 March 2010|work=Online webpage of The Frontline, Volume 20 - Issue 20, September 27 - October 10, 2003|title=From debt to death|author=Parvathi Menon|publisher= © 2003, Frontline|access-date=2007-06-26}}</ref>
* Drinking water scarcity: A lot of towns and cities in Karnataka are dependent on rivers for the supply of drinking water and any deficiency in rainfall leads to the lesser amount of drinking water being supplied to the homes.
* Shortage of electricity: Deficient rainfall leads to a drop in the amount of electricity produced by hydroelectric projects and hence drastic measures like compulsory power cuts have to be employed to counter this shortage.<ref name="ls">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/22/stories/2007032214610500.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070329012743/http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/22/stories/2007032214610500.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2007-03-29|title=Belgaum facing power shortage of 46 mu a month|access-date=2007-06-26|location=Chennai, India|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=2007-03-22}}</ref>

===Excess rainfall===
Heavy rains can lead to a significant loss of life and property and also cause damage to the crops.<ref name="loss">{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-06-24/india/27974757_1_rain-fury-heavy-rains-flash-floods|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126044251/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-06-24/india/27974757_1_rain-fury-heavy-rains-flash-floods|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-01-26|title=Heavy rains in Karnataka, toll climbs to 117|access-date=2007-06-26|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=2007-06-24}}</ref> Excess rains also cause an impact in major cities with inundated roads causing traffic jams. An example of this was in the year 2005 when the Madivala lake overflowed on to the [[Hosur Road]] in [[Bangalore]] forcing many schools and offices to close.<ref name="overflow">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/10/25/stories/2005102509500100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051027014342/http://www.hindu.com/2005/10/25/stories/2005102509500100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2005-10-27|title=Bangalorean's water woes continue|access-date=2007-06-26|location=Chennai, India|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=2005-10-25}}</ref>

==Rainfall distribution==
The average annual rainfall in Karnataka is 1248  mm.<ref name="Government of Karnataka">{{cite web|url=http://raitamitra.kar.nic.in/agriprofile/rainfall.htm|work=Online Webpage of the Department of Agriculture|publisher=Government of Karnataka|title=Rainfall|access-date=2007-06-26|archive-date=9 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090409230358/http://raitamitra.kar.nic.in/agriprofile/rainfall.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> The state is divided into three meteorological zones. North Interior Karnataka, South Interior Karnataka, and Coastal Karnataka. Coastal Karnataka with an average annual rainfall of 3456  mm is one of the most rainy regions in the country. Contrasting this, South Interior Karnataka and North Interior Karnataka receive only 1126 and 731  mm of average annual rainfall.<ref name="avg">{{cite web|url=http://www.rainwaterharvesting.org/Urban/Rainfall.htm|work=Online webpage of Rainwaterharvesting.org|publisher=© Centre for Science & Environment, India|title=Average annual rainfall of the states of India|access-date=2007-06-26}}</ref>

==Districts==
The average annual rainfall in the districts of Karnataka varies from {{cvt|562|mm}} in the [[Bagalkot district]] to {{cvt|4119|mm}} in the [[Udupi]] District. [[Bagalkot district|Bagalkot]], [[Chitradurga district|Chitradurga]] and [[Koppal district|Koppal]] are the districts which receive the least rainfall whereas [[Udupi district|Udupi]], [[Dakshina Kannada]], [[Uttara Kannada]], [[Hassan, Karnataka|Hassan]], [[Kodagu]], [[Chickmagalur district|Chickmagalur]] and [[Shivamogga district|Shivamogga]] districts receive the heaviest rainfall.
[[File:Kar rainfall.JPG|400px|right|thumb|Annual Rainfall in Karnataka 1991-2005<ref name="ann">{{cite web|url=http://raitamitra.kar.nic.in/Statistics/Rainfall.html|work=Online webpage of the Department of Agriculture|publisher=Government of Karnataka|title=Rainfall statistics|access-date=2007-06-26}}</ref>]]
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Average annual rainfall in the districts of Karnataka<ref name="avg"/>
|-
! rowspan=2 | District
! colspan=2 | Average annual rainfall
|-
! mm
! inches
|-
| [[Bengaluru Urban]] || {{cvt|978|mm|in|disp=table}}
|-
| [[Bengaluru Rural]] || {{cvt|885|mm|in|disp=table}}
|-
| [[Chitradurga]] || {{cvt|573|mm|in|disp=table}}
|-
| [[Davanagere]] || {{cvt|700|mm|in|disp=table}}
|-
| [[Kolar, Karnataka|Kolar]] || {{cvt|744|mm|in|disp=table}}
|-
| [[Shivamogga]] || {{cvt|1813|mm|in|disp=table}}
|-
| [[Tumkuru]] || {{cvt|688|mm|in|disp=table}}
|-
| [[Bagalkote]] || {{cvt|562|mm|in|disp=table}}
|-
| [[Belagavi]] || {{cvt|808|mm|in|disp=table}}
|-
| [[Vijapura]] || {{cvt|578|mm|in|disp=table}}
|-
| [[Dharwad District|Dharwad]] || {{cvt|772|mm|in|disp=table}}
|-
| [[Gadag District|Gadag]] || {{cvt|612|mm|in|disp=table}}
|-
| [[Haveri District|Haveri]] || {{cvt|753|mm|in|disp=table}}
|-
| [[Uttara Kannada]] || {{cvt|2835|mm|in|disp=table}}
|-
| [[Bellary]] || {{cvt|636|mm|in|disp=table}}
|-
| [[Bidar]] || {{cvt|847|mm|in|disp=table}}
|-
| [[Gulbarga]] || {{cvt|777|mm|in|disp=table}}
|-
| [[Koppal]] || {{cvt|572|mm|in|disp=table}}
|-
| [[Raichur]] || {{cvt|621|mm|in|disp=table}}
|-
| [[Chamarajanagar]] || {{cvt|751|mm|in|disp=table}}
|-
| [[Chikmagaluru]] || {{cvt|1925|mm|in|disp=table}}
|-
| [[Dakshina Kannada]] || {{cvt|3975|mm|in|disp=table}}
|-
| [[Hassan District|Hassan]] || {{cvt|1031|mm|in|disp=table}}
|-
| [[Kodagu]] || {{cvt|2718|mm|in|disp=table}}
|-
| [[Mandya District|Mandya]] || {{cvt|806|mm|in|disp=table}}
|-
| [[Mysuru]] || {{cvt|798|mm|in|disp=table}}
|-
| [[Udupi District|Udupi]] || {{cvt|4119|mm|in|disp=table}}
|-
|}

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

{{portalbar|India|Water}}

[[Category:Environment of Karnataka]]
[[Category:Climate of India]]

Rainfall in Karnataka - Revision history

TheHH: adding basic details with sources