Decadal changes in rainfall and temperature extreme in western agro-climatic zone of Punjab

• Main Authors: Rawat, Kishan Singh, Pal, Raj Kumar, Singh, Sudhir Kumar, Kumar, Sanjeev, Danu, Ritiksha
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural production; Annual precipitation; Annual rainfall; Night; Photosynthesis; Rainfall; Regression analysis; Statistical analysis
• ISSN: 0094-243X; 1551-7616
• DOI: 10.1063/5.0113343

The aim was to assess the rainfall and temperature extreme in last 37 years (1982–2018) in Western Agro-climatic zone of Punjab using Climate Change Detection and Indices (CCDI). The existence of statistical significance was studied using Mann-Kendall test and linear regression analysis. Statistical analysis revealed that the annual mean maximum temperature (Tmax) is decreasing significantly by 0.02 °C yearly, while, annual mean minimum (Tmin) indicated an increment tendency and found statistically non-significant. The variability in respect of temperature would have an effect on agricultural production due to decrease in rate of photosynthesis and respiration process during night-time beyond of normal limit. Moreover, the magnitude and frequency of coolness of day-time when the maximum temperature < 15 °C in addition to night-time having minimum temperature < 5 °C were found rising at Bathinda, Punjab. Additionally, rainfall based analysis of indices, annual total wet day precipitation (PRCPTOT), consecutive wet days (CWD), number of rainy days, when Rain ≥ 20 mm (R20) indicated decreasing order (but non-significant). However, rising tendency in simple daily intensity index (SDII), declining trend of rainy days (R2.5) and consecutive dry days (CDD) have denoted good allocation of rainfall. Due to insignificant decreasing pattern in RX1day, RX5day, R95p along with R99p indices, probability of non-heavy rainfall situations was possessed in the study region.