Decoding climate change and mapping extreme weather hotspots in Odisha through historical weather analysis

Abstract

Regional climate studies are essential for pinpointing climate hotspots and developing effective resilience strategies. This study examined trends in eight precipitation and ten temperature extremes in Odisha, India, using RClimDex in R studio with data from the India Meteorological Department, Pune, covering 1980 to 2010 for Khordha, Keonjhar, and Sambalpur. Statistical significance was tested through linear regression and Mann-Kendall tests. Results show a significant shift in climate, particularly in Sambalpur and Khordha, where nine and seven out of ten temperature indices, respectively, exhibited significant changes. The mean maximum temperature increased significantly in Khordha (0.03 °C/year) and Sambalpur (0.026 °C/year), while the mean minimum temperature rose significantly in Khordha (0.03 °C/year) but decreased in Keonjhar (-0.029 °C/year) and Sambalpur (-0.061 °C/year). Cool nights significantly decreased in Khordha (-0.229 days/year) and increased in Sambalpur (0.557 days/year). Warm nights rose significantly in Khordha (0.484 days/year) but declined in Sambalpur (-0.421 days/year). The warm spell duration indicator showed significant increases across all regions, with increments of 0.308, 0.438, and 0.689 days/year in Khordha, Keonjhar, and Sambalpur, respectively. Warm days also rose significantly in Khordha (0.301 days/year) and Sambalpur (0.379 days/year). Regarding precipitation, Khordha showed positive trends in all eight indices, with a significant change in heavy rainfall days. In Keonjhar, no significant changes were observed, while Sambalpur experienced a significant decrease in total annual rainfall (-9.621 mm/year). These findings highlight a significant shift in climate patterns within Odisha, with Sambalpur and Khordha more vulnerable to extreme events compared to Keonjhar.