CLIMATE VARIABILITY AND HYDROCLIMATIC CHANGE IN RANCHI, JHARKHAND, INDIA: TRENDS IN RAINFALL AND TEMPERATURE DURING 2000-2025
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69980/6vq1th24Keywords:
Climate Change, Temperature Trend, Monsoon Dynamics, Ranchi, Jharkhand, Climate Adaptation, Rainfall VariabilityAbstract
Climate change is one of the most severe environmental challenges of the twenty first century that has been affecting the regional climate systems, hydrological processes, ecosystem dynamics and the human livelihoods. Information on long-term climatic variations at the regional scale is needed to facilitate the development of effective adaptation and mitigation strategies. This study examines the variations in monthly climatic parameters of rainfall and temperature over Ranchi District of Jharkhand, India for the period 2000 to 2025. Rainfall variability and dependence on the monsoons, temperature trends and climate anomalies were assessed using annual, seasonal and monthly analysis. The results show that annual rainfall has increased slowly by no more than 22.3 mm per year while mean temperature has increased by no more than 0.038 °C per year. The mean annual rainfall for the study period was 1468.6 mm with almost 81.5% of it falling in the southwest monsoon season. There was large interannual variation, with the highest recorded in 2025 (2553.3 mm) and the lowest was recorded in 2014 (854.7 mm). The data analysis of the temperature showed an increase in mean temperatures during recent years, especially after 2015. The period-wise analysis revealed that 2021 – 2025 had the highest average rainfall and 2021 – 2025 had the highest average temperature. The results presented here suggest the increasing climatic variability and the possible effect of climatic change on the hydroclimatic conditions in the region. The observed changes have implications for agriculture, water resources, forest ecosystems and conservation of biodiversity, and planning for climate adaptation in Jharkhand.
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