Testing homogeneity, stationarity and trend in climatic series at Udaipur – a case study

Abstract

Three seasonal climatological time series, i.e., rainfall, minimum temperature, and maximum temperature of Udaipur in three seasons, i.e. summer, rainy and winter were tested for the presence of homogeneity, stationarity, and trend components. Box plot indicated normality in the rainy season rainfall. Minimum temperature series of rainy season was more uniform and normal than summer and winter season time series. Maximum temperatures during rainy season follow normal distribution. Homogeneity of seasonal time series was tested by using von-Neumann, Cumulative Deviations and Bayesian tests, which indicated that all seasonal rainfall and maximum temperature time series were homogenous. Homogeneity was present only in summer and rainy season minimum temperature time series. Stationarity and trends in the time series were detected by using Mann-Whitney test and Mann-Kendall test, respectively, which suggested that stationarity was present in all seasonal maximum and minimum temperature, and winter season rainfall time series and absent in summer and rainy season rainfall time series. Based on the results of Mann-Kendall tests, all the time series under study were free from any kind of trend.

Keywords

• Climatic time series
• Homogeneity
• Stationarity
• Trend