International E-publication: Publish Projects, Dissertation, Theses, Books, Souvenir, Conference Proceeding with ISBN. 

Rainfall distribution analysis in Kurunegala District, Sri Lanka

    , ,

Author Affiliations

  • 1Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Eastern University, Sri Lanka
  • 2Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Eastern University, Sri Lanka
  • 3Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Eastern University, Sri Lanka

Res. J. Engineering Sci., Volume 13, Issue (2), Pages 1-9, May,26 (2024)

Abstract

Studying the spatiotemporal patterns of rainfall has become vital in effectively managing water resources for long-term prosperity. This study was conducted with the objective of investigating the variations in rainfall distribution within the Kurunegala district. To accomplish this, historical rainfall data from four gauging stations were subjected to comprehensive mathematical and statistical analyses. Additionally, the research delved into assessing rainfall trends, rainfall exceedance and the examination of meteorological drought conditions. Rainfall distribution within the district exhibits significant spatio-temporal fluctuations. Bathalagoda stands out with the highest annual mean rainfall, measuring 1843mm. In comparison, Wariyapola, Mediyawa, and Siyambalagamuwa report corresponding figures of 1629mm, 1315mm, and 1222mm, respectively. However, it's worth noting that rainfall is concentrated primarily within specific months of the year. When considering a 50% probability of annual rainfall exceeding a certain threshold, Bathalagoda records 1825mm, while Wariyapola, Mediyawa, and Siyambalagamuwa show figures of 1662mm, 1284mm, and 1226mm, respectively. Interestingly, there is a decreasing trend in annual rainfall for Mediyawa, Wariyapola, and Siyambalagamuwa, while Bathalagoda exhibits an increasing trend. The Southwest monsoonal (SWM) and 2nd inter-monsoonal (IM2) rainfall patterns are displaying a consistent decline across all measurement stations. Conversely, both Mediyawa and Bathalagoda exhibit a positive trend in rainfall during the 1st inter-monsoonal (IM1) and Northeast monsoonal (NEM) periods. There is a negative trend in Maha seasonal rainfall across all regions except for Bathalagoda, where the trend is positive. Additionally, there is a positive trend in Yala seasonal rainfall observed in Mediyawewa and Bathalogoda. Moreover, recent years have seen the occurrence of severe drought conditions in Wariyapola, Mediyawa, and Siyambalagamuwa. In contrast to other areas, Mediyawa and Siyambalagamuwa experience significant deviations from the long-term average in terms of rainfall. The study area exhibits a recurring pattern in the distribution of rainfall over time. Nevertheless, the quantity of rainfall received in recent years has been lower compared to the preceding decade across all regions except Bathalagoda. Therefore, making proper management decisions that consider rainfall distribution patterns is crucial for the effective governance of water resources and ensuring the sustainability of agricultural production.

References

  1. Change, I. P. O. C. (2007)., Climate change 2007: The physical science basis., Agenda, 6(07), 333.
  2. CHANGE, O. C. (2007)., Intergovernmental panel on climate change., World Meteorological Organization, 52, 1-43.
  3. Oliver, J.E. (1980)., Monthly Precipitation Distribution: A Comparative Index., Professional Geographer, 32, 300-309.
  4. De Luis, M., Gonzalez-Hidalgo, J. C., Brunetti, M., & Longares, L. A. (2011)., Precipitation concentration changes in Spain 1946–2005., Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 11(5), 1259-1265.
  5. Singh, V., & Dev, P. (2012)., 50 year rainfall data analysis and future trend in Saharanpur region., Mausam, 63(1), 55-64.
  6. Cacciamani, C., Morgillo, A., Marchesi, S., & Pavan, V. (2007)., Monitoring and forecasting drought on a regional scale: Emilia-Romagna region., Methods and tools for drought analysis and management, 29-48.