A study on the trends of rainfall and temperature patterns to identify the influence of climate variation in coastal cities in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Climate change has been universal/y recognized as ajundamental human development chalfengein the 21" century and also it impacts both natural and built environments. Since different parts oj the norld have predicted to be affected by climate change in varying degrees,many oj the studies arejocused on climate change in global or region leveLHowever, there is a dearth oj climatologicalstudies addressing the temporal trends in rainjall and temperature at ciry scale. On other hand, recent rainjall and temperature extremes have adverse impacts on the natural and built environment oj most oj coastal cities in Sri Lanka. In this context this researchattempted to examine trends oj rainjalf and temperature patterns over the last jour decades in seven coastal cities (name/y, Rathmalana, Hambantota, Trincomalie, Puttalam, Katunqyake, Batticaloa and Galle) in Sri Lanka to understand whether thry support to claim the long-term climate change by identifYing temporal trends in the rainjalf and temperature dun'ng the period oj 1971-2011.The findings oj the stucfy revealed average overall stations, the indices oj temperature extremes indicate warming oj both dailY minimum and maximum temperature between 1971 and 2011. For precipitation, most oj the indices show significant changes.Relative to the changes in the total amounts, there is a very significant change in theprecipitation extreme days. AccordinglY, this stucfy emphasized the need oj integrating the climatic variations lvise/y in the urban planning can invest the capital oj the country to the development rather than unnecessarilYspend it onpost disaster rehabilitations.