An analysis of 50 years of seasonal rainfall and temperature pattern data in the Sylhet region of Bangladesh

Abstract

Climate variability, particularly due to rainfall and temperature, has a significant impact on the country's economy and has garnered significant global attention. The magnitude of climatic factor fluctuations varies according to geographic locations. Meteorological parameter analysis is critical in countries where rainfed agriculture predominates. The current study examined the monthly variations in rainfall and temperature (maximum and minimum) over a 50-year period (1967 to 2017) in Sylhet region of Bangladesh. The non-parametric Mann Kendall test was used to detect the trend, and the Sen's slope estimation method was used to identify the trend value. A thorough analysis of the data (1967 to 2017) reveals that the monthly rainfall occurs during the monsoon season (June to September). In terms of temperature, the maximum temperature was found from June to September, indicating the monsoon season. Mann Kendall trend analysis shows that the seasonal monthly rainfall and minimum temperature trends are not statistically significant, with Sen's slope values of <0.001 and 0.034, respectively. The maximum temperature trend is significant, with a p value of 0.042. As a result, the study concludes that Sylhet's climate is changing.