Climate of Haryana | HPSC Preparation: All subjects - HPSC (Haryana) PDF Download

Climate of Haryana State

• The climate of the state of Haryana is characterized as subtropical, semi-arid to sub-humid, continental and monsoon type.
• The average annual rainfall of Haryana is 560 mm, which varies across the state, with less than 300 mm in the south-western parts and over 1000 mm in the hilly tracks of the Shivalik hills.
• Haryana experiences very hot summers and cold winters, with the months of May and June being the hottest and December and January being the coldest.
• Rainfall in Haryana is unevenly distributed, with about 80% occurring during the monsoon season between July and September.
• The wettest region in terms of rainfall is the Shivalik Hills, while the Aravali Hills region is the driest.
• The temperature in Haryana can drop to 3 Degree Centigrade in winter and rise up to 50 Degree Centigrade in summer.
• The State has three main climate regions with varying annual rainfall and air temperature.
  

Climate: Current Baseline and Climate Projections of Haryana

To establish the current baseline climatology for the basin, a study was conducted using IMD gridded rainfall and temperature data at daily time scales to analyze long-term trends in seasonal precipitation and temperature over Haryana.

Data used

• The climatologists used IMD gridded data to study rainfall patterns in Haryana from 1971 to 2005, and temperature patterns from 1969 to 2005.
• The IMD gridded data used in the study covered a spatial resolution of 0.5 degrees for rainfall, and 1 degree for maximum and minimum temperature.
• The study analyzed rainfall and temperature data for a period of 35 years (1971-2005) and 37 years (1969-2005), respectively, using IMD gridded data.
• The researchers used IMD gridded data to examine precipitation and temperature trends in Haryana over a period of 35 and 37 years, respectively.
• For the study, IMD gridded data were utilized to analyze rainfall and temperature at a spatial resolution of 0.5 and 1 degrees, respectively, for 35 and 37 years.

Observed Precipitation trends

• The amount of rainfall in Haryana can vary significantly in different areas and from year to year.
• The southwest monsoon season, which spans from June to September, contributes 82% of the annual rainfall (544 mm), with August having the highest mean monthly rainfall (163 mm) and July following closely behind at around 29.5%. June has slightly lower rainfall, contributing about 10% of the annual total, while September makes up 13%.
• Pre-monsoon rainfall (March to May) and post-monsoon rainfall (October to December) contribute 8% and 5.8% respectively to the annual rainfall, with very little year-to-year variation.
• The average number of rainy days in Haryana during the southwest monsoon is around 25, varying from 14 to 40 depending on the location. High rainfall days typically occur between 1 to 3 times, and there is usually only one day of extreme rainfall.
• During the post-monsoon or winter season, there are only about 2 rainy days on average, with high and extreme rainfall events being negligible. The number of rainy days varies from 1 to 3 depending on the location.

Observed Temperature trends

• The state of Haryana exhibits both spatial and temporal variability in terms of its climate.
• The diurnal temperature range varies from 31.4 Degree Centigrade to 17.4 Degree Centigrade.
• There is no significant trend observed in the mean maximum temperature, but the minimum temperature has increased by around 1.0 Degree Centigrade to 1.2 Degree Centigrade over a period of 37 years.
• The districts of Fatehabad, Jhajjar, and Karnal show a higher increase in minimum temperature (1.1 Degree Centigrade to 1.3 Degree Centigrade).
• The inter-annual variation is not significant, and there is a spatial variation of around 2 Degree Centigrade in annual maximum and minimum temperature.
• The seasonal average maximum temperature is higher during the pre-monsoon and monsoon season and ranges between 35.4 Degree Centigrade to 36.2 Degree Centigrade.
• Similarly, the seasonal average minimum temperature is lowest during the winter period and ranges from 6.9 Degree Centigrade to 7.6 Degree Centigrade.

Climate Change aspect of Haryana

• Climate Change has emerged as one of the most serious environmental and socio-economic concerns of our times.
• It is a global phenomenon with diverse local impacts likely to alter the distribution and quality of our natural resources and adversely affect the livelihood of the people specially the poor and marginalized communities.
• In 1992, India adopted the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, global initiative to combat climate change.
• Article 3 of the UNFCCC states that “parties should protect the climate system for the benefit of future and present generations of human kind on the basis of equity and in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibility and respective capabilities.”
• A latecomer into the nation’s development process and with a per capita Green House Gas emission barely a fraction of the national average and the magnitude much below that of other industralised states of the country, the state’s economy is closely linked to its natural resource base and climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture and forestry.
• Hence, the state faces an increased risk of the negative impacts of climate change.
• The state would therefore adopt a climate friendly, equity based and sustainable developmental path taking into account our “common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities”, and our regional development priorities, objectives and circumstances.
• A State Action Plan on Climate Change would be prepared within the ambit of the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) albeit with modifications that suits the specific requirements of the state.
• A climate change cell should be set up to coordinate the gathering of information, conduct research and offer solutions to the problems with regard to food security, change in rainfall patterns etc.
• Climate change initiatives to be started with the cooperation of the civil society at large to achieve:
  (a) Energy efficiency.
  (b) Harness renewable energy sources.
  (c) Adaptive management in agriculture.
  (d) Promote climate friendly technologies.
  (e) Launch campaign on 3Rs-recycle, reduce, reuse

Agro-climatic zone of Haryana

Haryana has been divided into nine agro-climatic zones based on a range of factors such as temperature, rainfall, soil type, and cropping pattern. The zones have been demarcated with the aim of promoting agriculture and allied activities by identifying the most suitable crops and cropping practices in each zone.

The nine agro-climatic zones of Haryana are:

• Northern Western Zone: This zone is characterized by low to moderate rainfall, low humidity, and a long winter. Crops grown in this zone include wheat, gram, mustard, and barley.
• North Eastern Zone: This zone receives moderate rainfall and has a long winter. The main crops grown here are wheat, gram, and mustard.
• Central Zone: This zone has moderate rainfall and is suitable for growing a variety of crops such as wheat, gram, mustard, bajra, maize, and sugarcane.
• South Eastern Zone: This zone receives moderate rainfall and has a long summer. Crops grown here include paddy, sugarcane, and vegetables.
• Southern Zone: This zone has a hot and dry climate and is suitable for growing crops such as cotton, groundnut, and maize.
• South Western Zone: This zone has low to moderate rainfall and is characterized by sandy loam soil. Crops grown here include bajra, gram, and mustard.
• Western Zone: This zone has a hot and dry climate and is suitable for growing crops such as cotton, guar, and bajra.
• North Western Zone: This zone receives low rainfall and has a long winter. The main crops grown here are wheat, gram, and mustard.
• Kandi Area Zone: This zone is characterized by undulating topography and poor soil fertility. The main crops grown here are maize, groundnut, and sugarcane.

Each agro-climatic zone has its unique characteristics that make it suitable for certain crops and cropping practices. The identification of these zones helps in planning agricultural activities and promoting the sustainable use of resources. It also helps in enhancing the productivity of crops and improving the livelihoods of farmers.