Extreme rainfall events over Odisha state, India

Abstract

Extreme rainfall events are a significant cause of loss of life and livelihoods in Odisha. Objectives of the present study are to determine the trend of the extreme rainfall events during 1991-2014 and to compare the events between two periods before and after 1991. Block level daily rainfall data were used in identifying the extreme rainfall events, while district level aggregation was used in analysing the trend in three categories, viz., heavy, very heavy and extremely heavy rainfall as per criteria given by India Meteorological Department (IMD). The state as a whole received one extremely heavy, nine very heavy, and forty heavy rainfall events in a year. When percentage of occurrence of each category out of the total extreme events over different districts was considered, maximum % of extremely heavy rainfall occurred in Kalahandi (5.8%), very heavy rainfall in Bolangir (23.8%) and heavy rainfall in Keonjhargarh (85.4%). Trend analysis showed that number of extreme rainfall events increased in a few districts, namely, Bolangir, Nuapada, Keonjhargarh, Koraput, Malkangiri, and Nawarangapur and did not change in other districts. In Puri district, extremely heavy rainfall frequency decreased. New all-time record high one-day rainfall events were observed in twenty districts during 1992 to 2014, surpassing the earlier records, which could be attributed to climate change induced by global warming. Interior south Odisha was found as the hot spot for extreme rainfalls.