Unveiling Precipitation and Temperature Patterns in Kashmir Valley, India

The impact of climate change on precipitation and air temperature has garnered significant attention globally. This chapter investigates the changing trends in monthly, seasonal and annual precipitation and temperature for the Kashmir Valley, situated in the Indian Himalayan Region. The study aims to detect and analyse the trends and variability in precipitation and temperature using long-term observed data from ten districts within the Kashmir Valley, spanning the period from 1901 to 2017. The modified Mann–Kendall (MK) test is employed to determine trends, while Sen’s slope estimator is utilized to measure the magnitude of slope. The results indicate statistically significant increasing trends in mean temperature and rainfall for most districts. Moreover, all ten districts exhibit a significant upward trend in annual precipitation, while annual temperature shows a similar trend except for one district. These findings establish that changes in air temperature and precipitation have occurred in the Kashmir Valley. The implications of these changes are far-reaching and encompass various sectors such as tourism, flood insurance, land use land cover and glaciers in the region. Understanding the vagaries of temperature and precipitation patterns is crucial for effective water resource management and climate change studies. This study provides valuable insights into the potential impacts of these climate variables, aiding policymakers and practitioners in making informed decisions to mitigate and adapt to the changing climate in the Kashmir Valley.