Frequency of Extreme Temperature Events in Sub-Montane Punjab

Abstract

Patterns of temperature and precipitation are changing due to global warming, resulting in their impact on crop productivity. During the summer season the maximum temperature in Punjab reaches upto 44-50oC and also heat waves have adverse effect on fauna and flora. Thirty eight years (1984-2012) of maximum temperature of Ballowal Saunkhri, located in the Submontane region of Punjab state at an altitude of 355m above the sea level for the months of April to June have been collected and classified into various groups for interpretation. Results show that the lowest and the highest maximum temperatures recorded during the study period were 31.6 and 41.3oC in the months of April and May, respectively. The Coefficient of Variation for three months varied from 4.57 to 20.99% and standard deviation of average maximum temperature varies from 1.77 to 7.29oC. Minimum persistence in maximum temperature over five days is found to be 8 to 33%. Analysis indicate that maximum number of heat waves occurred during the month of June. The decade wise analysis shows that maximum number of extreme events occurred during the last decade (2000-2012) and it is also found that maximum number of extreme temperatures of all catagories at Ballowal Saunkhri occurred during the month of May.