Evaluation of Long Term Rainfall Variability of Bhandara (Maharashtra), India Using GI

Abstract

The study of precipitation variability is critically important for a country like India whose food security and economy are dependent on the timely availability of water. Among the climatic elements, the rainfall is the first index, ever thought of by farmers and climatic analyzers as it is the most important single factor, which determines the cropping pattern of an area in general, the type of crop to be cultivated and its success or failure in particular. In this study, monthly, seasonal and annual variations of rainfall have been studied using monthly data series of 18 years (2000-2017) for 7 sub-divisions in Bhandara, Maharashtra, India. In India, the monsoon months of June to September account for more than 80% of the annual rainfall. During June and July, the number of sub-divisions presenting cumulative rainfall is almost equal to those showing decreasing rainfall. In August, the number of sub-divisions showing an increasing trend exceeds those showing a decreasing trend, whereas in September, the situation is the opposite. The majority of sub divisions showed very little change in rainfall in non-monsoon months. The five main regions of India showed no significant trend in annual, seasonal and monthly rainfall in most of the months.