Variability of rainfall and effective onset and length of the monsoon season over a sub-humid climatic environment

The study has analyzed the variability and trends in monthly, seasonal and annual rainfall and rainy days of four locations over different agro-ecological zones of Bihar, namely Samastipur (zone-I), Madhepura (zone-II), Sabour (zone-IIIA) and Patna (zone-IIIB). The Mann–Kendall nonparametric test was employed for detection of statistical significance and slopes of the trend lines were determined using the method of least square linear fitting. The variability and trends of onset of effective monsoon and length of monsoon period were also analyzed using the same method. The mean annual rainfall varies from 1137mm at Patna to 1219mm at Sabour. July is the rainiest month in all the zones followed by August. Maximum increase in annual rainfall was found at Sabour (40.1% of mean/30years at 95% confidence level) and minimum for Patna (10.1% of mean/30years). Significant increasing trend of rainfall during July, August and September at rates of 41.9, 83.2, and 112.7% of the mean/30years, respectively has been noticed at Madhepura. Analysis of rainy days indicates that rainy days increased during winter and annually for all the sites. The mean effective onset of monsoon varies from 18th June at Sabour to 28th June at Patna. The trends in the date of effective onset of monsoon indicate that the date tends to be early in all the sites except Madhepura. But a significant delayed trend in the onset at a rate of 2.8% of the mean/30years has been observed for Madhepura. The early trend of the effective onset of monsoon and increasing trends of length of monsoon season have been observed for Samastipur, Sabour and Patna. ► Mean annual rainfall varies from 1137mm at Patna to 1219mm at Sabour. ► July is the rainiest month in all the zones followed by August. ► Maximum increase in annual rainfall at Sabour (40.1%) and minimum at Patna (10.1%). ► Mean effective onset of monsoon 18th June at Sabour to 28th June at Patna. ► Trends in the date of effective onset tend to be early in all the sites except Madhepura.