Regression analysis of hydro-meteorological variables for climate change prediction: A case study of Chitral Basin, Hindukush region

In the present study, hydro-meteorological variables of Chitral Basin in Hindukush region of Pakistan were studied to predict the changes in climatic components such as temperature, precipitation, humidity and river flow based on observed data from 1990 to 2019. Uncertainties in climate change projection were studied using various statistical methods, such as trend variability analysis via stationarity test and validation of regression assumptions prior to fitting of regression estimates. Also, multiple regression models were estimated for each hydro-meteorological variables for the given 30 years of observed data. Results demonstrated that temperature and, precipitation were inversely related with one another. It was observed from the regression model that temperature is decreases by 0.309 °C on the average increases in precipitation by one unit. Temperature also decreases for the increase in humidity by average 0.086 °C. Since, precipitation is negatively related with temperature, thus for increases in temperature the annual precipitation decreases by 0.278 mm annually. Humidity on the other hand, increases by 0.207% by increasing in precipitation and the temperature that causes humidity to decrease by 0.99%. Thus, it demonstrated that the flow in Chitral river increases due to precipitation by 0.306 m3/s for the change in precipitation by one unit. Findings from the present study negated the general perceptions that flow in the Chitral river has increased due to recession of glaciers with increase in the intensity of temperature. [Display omitted] •Data of hydro-meteorological variables of Chitral Basin were assessed.•Multiple regression models were used to determine changes in climate variables.•Statistical models predicted that average temperature decreases by 0.309 °C per year.•Unit increase in temperature decreases the average precipitation by 0.278 mm per year.•River flow increases due to precipitation instead of raising temperature.