Spatiotemporal variability of temperature and its extremes over an agro-ecological region of Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

Temperature data from 14 stations were used to explore the spatiotemporal variability of temperature and its extremes for the period 1960-2018 in the Cauvery River Delta (CRD) area, an agro-ecological region of Tamil Nadu State, India. This investigation was carried out by using spline interpolation method, linear regression and Mann-Kendall test with a Sen’s slope estimator. Results indicated that the spatial patterns and temporal trends of annual and seasonal temperature showed an upward trend in most parts of the CRD region. The spatial changes of mean temperature at annual and seasonal scale were similar and showed an upward trend. Extreme temperature indices showed an increasing trend throughout the area. This investigation was carried out for a period of six decades from the year 1960. The CRD region exhibited a warming trend after the 1980s. Temperature variability over this region was witnessed by the global and regional level climate warming. These variability conditions would influence the growth and life cycle of agricultural crops. The results of this investigation could support decision makers and authorities to activate adequate irrigation and crop-changing strategies in order to protect vulnerable ecosystems and environmental conditions of the CRD region.