Climate Extremes Related with Temperature Change Point Detection in Pambar Kottakaraiyar Basin

Abstract

Global climate change has changed the trend of climate variables. Also there is change in intensity, frequency and cyclic pattern of climate extremes such as flood, drought, heatwaves and tropical cyclones in the southern part of India. The high temperatures and further increase pose serious socio-economic and environmental impacts. There is an urgent necessity to know about the regional level climate extremes and their adaptation strategies especially for the drought prone and rain fed basins. This paper discusses about the temperature trend and change point over a long term historical time period of 30 years (1992-2021). Based on the Man-Kendall method and Sen’s test, the temperature over the basin is showing a significant rising trend with positive slopes in almost all the months, seasons and annual statistics. The change points of mean temperature are observed in 2008 for both Kundrakudi and Pudukottai climate stations. The minimum temperature change point was identified in 1998 and 2009 years for the Kundrakudi climate station. The results of this paper will be helpful in capacity building of specialised team on extremes risk, vulnerability and sector specific indices for temperature for the water resources and agricultural sectors under changing climate.