Himachal Journal of Agricultural Research

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Spatial Distribution of Annual Rainfall in Himachal Pradesh and its Implication in Farming


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1 Department of Agronomy, Forages and Grassland Management, College of Agriculture, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur - 176062, India
 

Spatial distribution of annual rainfall and rainy days, dependable rainfall and rainfall trends in Himachal Pradesh was assessed using rainfall data(1971-2014) of 40 rain gauge stations. The normal annual rainfall of Himachal Pradesh was observed to be 1267 ± 375 mm spreading over 66 rainy days. Highest annual rainfall to the tune of 1000 mm at 75% probability was noticed in 16 (with 6 located alone in the Kangra district) out of 40 rain gauge stations. An expected annual rainfall in the range of 400-600 mm was observed in mid and high hill regions of the state comprising districts of Shimla with two stations and Mandi and Kinnaur each with single station. Ten observatories indicated significant decreasing trend in rainfall while seven showed increasing trend. Increasing trend in annual rainfall was observed mainly in Shimla (Kumarsain, Rohru and Shimla) and Mandi (Karsog, Chachiot and Sarkaghat) districts. Ten stations had an increasing trend in number of annual rainy days, whereas, six had decreasing trends. The heavy rainfall event trends were non- significant at most of the stations except Pachhad and Sundernagar where it was observed to be decreasing under 75-100 mm category. In more than 100 mm category, decreasing trend at Palampur, Nurpur, Nichar and Pachhad and increasing at Malan, Berthin and Sarkaghat was observed.

Keywords

Annual Rainfall, Rainy Days, Rainfall Variability, Dependable Rainfall, Trends, Himachal Pradesh.
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  • Spatial Distribution of Annual Rainfall in Himachal Pradesh and its Implication in Farming

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Authors

Rajendra Prasad
Department of Agronomy, Forages and Grassland Management, College of Agriculture, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur - 176062, India
Anupam Sharma
Department of Agronomy, Forages and Grassland Management, College of Agriculture, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur - 176062, India

Abstract


Spatial distribution of annual rainfall and rainy days, dependable rainfall and rainfall trends in Himachal Pradesh was assessed using rainfall data(1971-2014) of 40 rain gauge stations. The normal annual rainfall of Himachal Pradesh was observed to be 1267 ± 375 mm spreading over 66 rainy days. Highest annual rainfall to the tune of 1000 mm at 75% probability was noticed in 16 (with 6 located alone in the Kangra district) out of 40 rain gauge stations. An expected annual rainfall in the range of 400-600 mm was observed in mid and high hill regions of the state comprising districts of Shimla with two stations and Mandi and Kinnaur each with single station. Ten observatories indicated significant decreasing trend in rainfall while seven showed increasing trend. Increasing trend in annual rainfall was observed mainly in Shimla (Kumarsain, Rohru and Shimla) and Mandi (Karsog, Chachiot and Sarkaghat) districts. Ten stations had an increasing trend in number of annual rainy days, whereas, six had decreasing trends. The heavy rainfall event trends were non- significant at most of the stations except Pachhad and Sundernagar where it was observed to be decreasing under 75-100 mm category. In more than 100 mm category, decreasing trend at Palampur, Nurpur, Nichar and Pachhad and increasing at Malan, Berthin and Sarkaghat was observed.

Keywords


Annual Rainfall, Rainy Days, Rainfall Variability, Dependable Rainfall, Trends, Himachal Pradesh.

References