Local climate assessment: a meso-scale analysis of long period rainfall in a rural dry sub-humid district from India

Abstract

The present study investigates the temporal variability in monthly, seasonal and annual rainfall over a drought prone district in India. Long period rainfall data, from 1950 to 2012, were investigated over the district by analysis of anomalies and application of both parametric and non-parametric statistical tests. Decline in annual rainfall is evident in the study area with highest number of below mean rainfall years observed in the recent decade (2000–2009). Only 25% of the annual rainy days span across pre-monsoon, post-monsoon and winter season, reinforcing the high dependence of local communities on monsoonal rainfall for effective crop growth. Against this, a decreasing trend in monsoonal rainfall is noticed over the years. In conclusion, the present paper argues for district level rainfall studies which will provide local stakeholders with the necessary information for better planning and management of rainfall dependent development sectors, thus resulting in reduced overall socio-economic upheaval of rural communities.

Keywords:

• District
• Rainfall
• Trend analysis
• Paddy cultivation

Acknowledgements

The first author is deeply thankful to the College Women’s Association of Japan and the Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University for the financial support extended. The authors would also like to thank Dr. Kimihito Nakamura, Associate Professor, Laboratory of Irrigation, Drainage and Hydrological Environment Engineering, Kyoto University, the anonymous reviewer and the Editor for their meticulous efforts in revising the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.