Long term rainfall trend over meteorological sub divisions and districts of India

Abstract

In this paper the long term trend of annual and seasonal rainfall over different districts, Meteorological (Met.) sub-divisions and whole India have been studied using the long term rainfall data for the period from 1901 to 2013. The changes in amount and pattern of rainfall have a significant impact on agriculture, water resources management and overall economy of the country. Mann-Kendall test is applied to check the significance of the trend. Linear Regression and Theil-Sen’s non parametric test has been applied to estimate the trend. The study is carried out for 632 districts and 34 sub divisions of India by utilizing the gridded rainfall data (0.25° × 0.25°) over the main land except Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands. Many authors have studied that extreme events are increasing but there is no trend in Pan India’s rainfall. It is observed from the annual rainfall analysis 10% of the number of districts are showing significant increasing trend and 13% significant decreasing (mainly in Uttar Pradesh) trend whereas irrespective of high and low rainfall regions, 10% area of the country is showing significant increasing trend and 8% of the area of the country showing significant decreasing trend in annual rainfall. In Meteorological Sub divisions, east & west UP are showing significant negative trend and some of the coastal sub divisions are showing positive trend. It is also observed that the country’s rainfall is not showing any trend.