Temperature variations and trends in the lower atmosphere over indian longitudes, 1948-2011

Abstract

Temperature trends in the lower atmosphere are reported to be increasing due to natural and anthropogenic causes. The seasonal and annual variations in temperature in the northern and southern hemispheres over the Indian longitudes between 40° E and 120° E have been analysed using NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data set for the period 1948-2011. The analysis has been carried out for the satellite era 1979-2011 and for the whole period to bring out any plausible change in trends in temperature. It is observed that the annual trends indicate warming of the troposphere in both hemispheres whereas seasonal trends show mixed response obviously due to climatic forcing and land-ocean temperature contrasts. The variation in tropopause height is lesser over tropics of northern hemisphere than the southern hemisphere. The mean tropopause temperature is more in the satellite era.