Open AccessDecadal variation in the heat and cold waves over India during 1971-2000
Author(s) -
D. S. Pai,
V. Thapliyal,
P. D. Kokate
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
mausam
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.243
H-Index - 12
ISSN - 0252-9416
DOI - 10.54302/mausam.v55i2.1083
Subject(s) - heat wave , climatology , environmental science , cold wave , urbanization , period (music) , climate change , atmospheric sciences , geography , meteorology , geology , oceanography , physics , acoustics , economic growth , economics
Using information regarding daily heat wave and cold wave conditions over all the meteorological sub-divisions of India for the period 1971-2000, the decadal changes in the various characteristics of heat wave (HW)/severe heat wave (SHW) and cold wave (CW)/severe cold wave (SCW) were examined. A significant increase was noticed in the frequency, persistency and spatial coverage of both of these high frequency temperature extreme events (heat and cold waves) during the decade (1991-2000). These changes might be the manifestation of regional impact of highest ever decadal scale global warming recorded during the period (1991-2000). A part of these changes might also be caused by local factors such as deforestation, urbanization etc. The HW/SHW activity over most of the subdivisions were relatively less during the intermediate decadal period (1981-1990) as compared to that during the preceding (1971-1980) and succeeding (1991-2000) decadal periods. The CW/SCW activity over North India showed increase from the decade of seventies to eighties and then to nineties. For other areas, the changes in the CW/SCW activity were similar to that of HW/SHW with the intermediate period having minimum activity compared to the other two periods. During the entire data period, three sub-divisions, namely Kerala, Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands did not experience any heat/cold wave conditions at all.