Trends of Extreme Climatic Events in Kumaon Lesser Himalaya: A Case Illustration of Ramgad Watershed

The paper analyzed the variability of the precipitation pattern and interpreted the frequency and intensity of the high - intensity rainfall and drought over the Ramgad Watershed, Kumaon Lesser Himalaya, India over the past five decades. The study used the ground observed climatic data of the Automated Weather Station [AWS] of India Meteorological Department situated in the watershed for the last 50 years. The study observed an increasing trend in the decadal rainfall but an overall declining trend in decadal rainy days with few exceptions between 1971 and 2020. The study investigated that the decadal rainfall has increased during the winter, summer and monsoon seasons, whereas it shows a declining trend in the post - monsoon months. However, the decadal rainy days indicated a declining trend in all seasons except during the summer months. Further, the watershed recorded a progressively increasing trend in the events of high - intensity rainfall during monsoon months with a considerably large proportion of high - intensity rainfall events falling in the category of severe rainfall events. Whereas, the events of high - intensity rainfall have shown a declining trend during winter, summer and post monsoon seasons in the watershed. However, the number as well as the intensity of drought have been observed increasing in monsoon season if compared to other seasons when the incidences as well as the intensity of drought have shown a declining trend. The study concluded that climate change induced extreme events of high - intensity rainfall and drought have emerged the major environmental threats undermining the sustainability of the socio - ecological system and thus increasing vulnerability of a large proportion of population to water, food, health and livelihood insecurity in the rain - fed and densely populated Lesser Himalayan mountains.