RAINFALL CHARACTERISTICS AND METEOROLOGICAL DROUGHT CONDITION IN JHUNJHUNU DISTRICT OF WESTERN RAJASTHAN

Abstract

The rainfall characteristics, weekly water balance and meteorological drought conditions using six tehsil-wise rainfall data (1901-2005) in arid Jhunjhunu district were studied. The district experiences 399-556 mm of annual rainfall, 24-32 rainy days with a coefficient of variation of 37-44%. The seasonal rainfall (June-September) varied from 348-477 mm with 18-24 rainy days. The extreme rainfall events recorded in the Jhunjhunu district showed that 1-day highest was between 157.5 mm at Jhunjhunu to 281.4 mm at Khetri. 1-day highest rainfall was 91-117 mm once in 5-years to 167-226 mm once in 100 years. The long-term annual rainfall trends showed that there was a marginal increase at a rate by 12 mm/100 years at Jhunjhunu, 30 mm/100 years at Khetri, 56 mm/100 years at Chirawa and 100 mm/50 years at Udaipurwati. The meteorological droughts prevailed in 34 years out of 105 years (1901-2005). Thus, the frequency of occurrence of drought in the Jhunjhunu district varied from once in 3.6 years at Jhunjhunu to 3.0 years at Khetri. The other locations in the district experienced in 29 years at Chirawa. The drought frequency was highest during the decade 1981-90 with 6 out of 10 years recording moderate to severe drought and least frequency recording during 1941-50 with 2 out of 10 years as drought years.