New Delhi, April 8 -- Soil moisture levels could serve as an early warning signal for severe clusters of thunderstorms that cause flash floods and landslides in regions such as India, West and Central Africa, South America, and parts of the United States and China, according to new research published in the journal Nature Geoscience.

The study focused on mesoscale convective systems (MCS) - large clusters of thunderstorms that can span areas bigger than England and travel hundreds of kilometres. These systems often bring intense rainfall, causing widespread damage to lives, livestock and infrastructure. In tropical regions, MCSs accounted for 50 to 90 per cent of total rainfall, the researchers noted.

Regions identified as hotspots for ...