Decadal trends in climate over India

Abstract

Decadal variations of meteorological parameters, vig, temperature (surface air maximum temperature, minimum temperature and upper air up to middle troposphere), station level pressure and seasonal and annual rainfall are studied for the period 1901 to 1986 (upper air data available from 1951 onwards), Tests of significance applied to data series (stationwise as well as country as a whole) show that the temperatures are showing a decreasing trend in almost all the northern parts of the country (north of 23" N) and a rising trend in southern parts (south of 23"N), For the country as a whole, however, there is a small warming trend Atmospheric pressure shows a fall between second and third decades but does not indicate any significant change after 1930, Decadal analysis of seasonal (Jun-Sep) and annual rainfall indicates that the variations in rainfall are within the statistical limits.