Analysis of Trend of Spatial and Temporal Characteristics of Temperature: A Case Study of Teesta-Dikchu Watershed, Sikkim

Abstract

The glacial and monsoon dependent flow of the river Teesta in Sikkim makes the flow very climate sensitive. The trend analysis of the temperature of the watershed becomes essential to keep a record of the any behavioural change in temperature and its impact on the flow of the Teesta river. The study analyses the trend in mean monthly temperature and mean seasonal temperature using Mann-Kendall test, Sen’s slope estimation and Pettitt's test for the period 1985-2015 for Gangtok and Tadong and Pettitt's test from 2005 to 2015 for Majitar and Mangan. The trends of temporal and spatial characteristics of temperature along the watershed show much variation. Gangtok and Tadong, the eastern district of Sikkim shows a rise in temperature while the temperature in Sikkim’s northern region has fallen.