Climatic changes in and around the Rajasthan desert during the 20th century

Abstract

Abstract Rainfall and temperature data during the period 1901–1982 are studied for the northwest Indian region consisting of the meteorological subdivisions of Punjab, Haryana, west Rajasthan, east Rajasthan and west Madhya Pradesh. The results indicate a decreasing trend in the mean annual surface air temperature, which is mainly contributed by the south‐west monsoon season (June through September), The mean annual and south‐west monsoon season rainfall series over most parts of the region indicate a conspicuous increasing trend. The increasing trend is significantly marked for the subdivisions constituting the peripheral areas of the Rajasthan desert. These trends in rainfall and temperature are examined in relation to the changing land use pattern of the region due to extensive irrigation. Earlier findings of Winstanley (1973) reporting a decreasing trend in rainfall are found to be unacceptable due to the unrealistic assumptions of his study.