Journal of Global Resources

Volume 4 (02)
July 2018
ISSN: 2395-3160 (Print), 2455-2445 (Online)

Page 89-95

12SPATIAL TEMPORAL VARIABILITYOF RAINFALL TRENDS ANALYSIS IN NAGAPATTINAM
COASTAL ZONE, TAMIL NADU
Rajesh. J. and Lakshumanan. C
Centre for Remote Sensing, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, India
Email: rajeshgeomtech@gmail.com
Abstract: The present study involves intensive of rainfall data and Drought assessment of theNagapattinam taluk during 1980-2017 using graphical statistical method. Rainfall data for thepast 30 years were analysed to the distribution of rainfall and to assess the rainfall patternchanges. The maximum average annual rainfall recorded in the year (2004)-254.88 cm at
Thirupoondi station, and minimum rainfall recorded in the year (1980) was 7.67 cm in
Thiruvaraur station. The highest rainfall observed in Thalanayar, Thirupoondi, Muthupet andNagapattinam compared with other station from 950 mm to 1500 mm.In 1980-81, 198283,1995-96,2001-02, 2002-03, 2012, 2016, 2017the rainfall has not followed a regular pattern ofsinusoidal array, and it is greatly disturbed by the complicated climate system.
Key words: Rainfall intensive, Climate change, Monsoons and Drought assessment.
Introduction
The rains may cause heavy inflow of water in the rivers and jungle streams, odais etc. Thesewater courses then become too narrow to carry large volume of water which flows. Therefore thewater overflows thereby breaching embankments, causes enormous damages to houses, huts,
agricultural lands, roads, telephone lines, railway tracks, electricity lines and other publicproperties. Seetharam (2013) studied the rainfall regime and pattern in past and future trends inthe rainfall pattern for the drought monitoring and management. Venkatraman et al., (2013) havestudied the Rainfall of Dindigul district and reveal the variation in the trends. The rainfall
distribution and trend for Salem district were analysed in Gurugnanam et al., (2010), and they
have used the GIS tool to map the spatial distribution of rainfall. The result shows the variation
with the amount of precipitation in the particular domain. As the rainfall trends of Tamil Nadu has
been studied by many authors, the influence of climate change on precipitation pattern in last 50years has studied, and the domain characterizations were done by Suhatharahima et al.,(2013).The rainfall history had utilized to define climate change in Coloroda by McKee et al.,(1993) and also Parthasarathy et al., 1993) studied homogeneous Indian Monsoon rainfall series
over the period 1971 -1990. Iwashima et al., 1993: Karl et al., 1995: Mason et al., 1999 haverevealed the importance of rainfall study and they had used daily rainfall and extreme rainfall
records to investigate changes in the frequency of extreme rainfall.
Study area description
Nagapattinam taluk, Tamil Nadu State of Southern India, lies between Northern Latitude
10046’16’’ and 79050’50’’ Eastern Longitude. Nagapattinam is known for its rich religious heritageand communal harmony with the total population of 282784 as per 2011 census. Malepopulation is around 139917 and female population is 142867, number of house hold in thistaluk is 70683. The area receives rainfall under the influence of both southwest and northeast
monsoon. A good part of the precipitation occurs as during very intensive storms resulting
mainly from cyclones generated in the Bay of Bengal especially during the northeast monsoon.
The rainfall pattern of the district shows interesting features, annual precipitation, which isaround 1500 mm, the southern part of the district and it decreases about 1100 mm towards thenorthern part of the district. The area enjoys humid and tropical climate with hot summers,
significant to mild winters and moderate to heavy rainfall. The temperature varies from 40.6 to89

19.3° C with sharp fall in night temperatures during monsoon periods. The relative humidity
ranges from 70 - 77% and it is high during October to November. (Fig. 1.)
Figure 01: Study Area Description

Methodology
The rainfall data have collected from Department of Economics and Statistics, Chennai. The
mean annual rainfall has analysed graphically, and the rainfalls received in the past decades
have correlated with each other. The trends of the rainfall data were taken into Excel for each
decade has represented and analysed by a graphical and statistical method.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Rainfall pattern
Rainfall Pattern for the 32 years from 1980 to 2012 shows much variation in every year. (Table2).shows that amount of average annual rainfall recorded in the study area. Howeverconsiderable variation from this rainfall observed in various parts of the study area. The
maximum average annual rainfall recorded in the year (2004)-254.88 cm at Thirupoondi station,and minimum rainfall recorded in the year (1980) was 7.67 cm in Thiruvaraur station. The
highest rainfall observed in Thalanayar, Thirupoondi, Muthupet and Nagapattinam comparedwith other station from 950 mm to 1500 mm. Most of the rainfall is received between Octoberand December in the influence of Northeast monsoon. Rainfall is higher in the coastal areas andprogressively decreases towards inland.
The spatial distribution of rainfall in the Nagapattinam areas shows highly
heterogeneous. Rainfall intensity amount is higher in the coastal region compared with inlandarea. (Fig.2. and Fig.3.). An analysis of annual rainy days indicates that there is no change in the
Cauvery basin in the last 100 year period, however, the river basins north and south of theCauvery basins have experience decreasing trend by -3.6 per cent and -32.3 per cent. The
quantified changes in annual rainfall and number of rainy days are indicated in (Table -1) at
annual and seasonal levels. (Jain and Kumar 2012).

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Table 01: Details of Cauvery delta E Rainfall Trends
AnnualBasinRainfall(mm/yr)1

Pre monsoon

Rainydays(Days/yr)

MonsoonPost monsoon

WinterRainfall

Rainy days

RainfallRainy days

RainfallRainy days

RainfallRainy days

(mm/yr)(Days/ yr)(mm/yr)(Days/ yr)(mm/yr)(Days/ yr)(mm/ yr)(Days/ yr)

EF1

0.0445-0.032-0.345-0.032-0.214-0.047

0.659

0.00

0.197

0.00

Cauvery

0.879

0.00

-0.5630.00

0.0750.028

1.748

0.05

0.024

0.00

-0.95

-0.333-0.8-0.143-0.5-0.125

0.491

0.00

-0.246-0.0322

EF2

1. EF1- East flowing river basins that are north of the Cauvery river Basin
2. EF2 – East flowing river basins that are South of Cauvery river Basin

Figure 02: Rainfall distribution map in North-east monsoon (1985-2000)a) 1985b) 1990c) 1995d) 2000

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Table 02: Average annual Rainfall in (cm) 1980 to 2012
Rainfall station

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

Nannilam

31.21

138.2415.39

121.74110.42

98.19

110.20102.55

95.04

78.14

89.63

94.87

78.18

147.53

83.46

85.26

125.13126.41

98.18

Nagappattinam

69.03

116.4892.77

133.55

126.58150.22113.34111.50

99.28

99.46

111.31131.9867.93

128.93

89.43

98.91

135.64129.02

92.33

Tirupoondi

80.22

128.1361.86

130.54146.30162.06

128.7897.64

107.47109.34101.83131.5376.23

115.3374.20

123.68151.38184.04137.17

Tiruthuraipoondi

7.67

114.03

60.49

94.97

95.91

125.08102.77

91.18

94.50

94.28

84.73

95.98

85.75

131.6376.43

106.49151.26107.06112.18

Muthupettai61.73

118.4391.95

114.65108.48128.33

96.30

91.18

80.48

82.78

101.33

95.17

79.02

144.63

88.65

82.45

142.43

94.98

101.61

Thiruvarur

59.33

142.2576.74

129.40105.10129.67122.17

83.14

95.44

94.09

129.08

92.53

94.20

164.09

85.34

86.63

128.90124.22

99.08

Thalanayar

69.85

27.54

84.58

130.97133.38143.79118.2598.25

138.75140.58167.08193.94111.88173.96

69.02

88.84

122.66132.44110.83

Vedaranyam

81.63

132.94-107.18154.83160.25101.51

97.10

109.20108.26120.19103.1372.99

143.67

84.38

88.18

150.0387.43

140.001999
104.65142.97110.09111.7087.20
81.41
107.75105.96

2000
108.67112.95
126.50123.01
107.18105.60104.47104.382006
117.63135.06147.54109.24103.66
119.66118.70111.17

2007
121.65118.06139.08103.25115.94119.93111.95110.04

Rainfall station
Nannilam
Nagappattinam
Tirupoondi
Tiruthuraipoondi
Muthupettai
Thiruvarur
Thalanayar
Vedaranyam

2001
100.68121.07137.05
67.23
82.16
49.50
112.41
96.07

2002
45.59
109.78124.6797.64
98.17
100.75108.12
92.61

2003
143.3492.81
115.53
99.10
90.04
64.70
97.62
99.01

2004
169.68162.70254.88146.34117.23181.99177.61149.97

Source: Directorate of statistics and economics dept, Tamil Nadu.

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2005
113.60152.07156.00115.2391.38
118.38125.44112.302008
87.73
125.15
157.75143.05180.81
127.96161.59175.372009
85.26
147.89126.29120.70120.54128.14150.05
159.602010
114.72158.88190.08169.23163.73166.12
157.34135.48

2011
40.40
26.24
21.50
55.08
73.22
60.17
23.73
23.27

2012
92.91
105.85
80.04
86.28
80.88
111.3689.10
115.37

Figure 03. Rainfall distribution map in Northeast Monsoon (2005-2010)e) 2005f ) 2010

The Cauvery delta region is known for floods and drought in the same year in 1983-84,
the South West monsoon was failure and in the month of the rainfall was low, there were severe
drought conditions in the month of from July to October, in the month of December 1983 andJanuary 1984 there was heavy rainfall fall the delta region leading to unprecedented floods, low
lying areas especially in Nagapattinam district. Most of the villages were marooned for weeks.
Then the year 1991 November heavy rainfall occurred in Nagapattinam district, completely
damaged the crops, similarly in 1993 the severe cyclone occurred with high speed wind of 188
km/ph and damaged the entire delta region and 1100 people lost their lives. In the year 1995
not much rainfall recorded in this region. Major cyclonic event in the year 2000 November
occurred with high speed wind of 189 km/ph, and 102 knots pressure caused severe damages
to the delta district both lives and property mainly crop lands are damaged, 1000 kucha houses
were partially damaged, 3000 plantation trees and 50,000 plantation, sapling got destroyed
around 30,000 trees were uprooted in Nagapattinam district. Later in 2004 severe flood
occurred in Nagapattinam district and damaged the agriculture land and property of the people
around 12000 houses affected during 29, October, 2004.
Subsequently December 2004 Tsunami severely affected the Nagapattinam coastal
region 8460 Ha cropland damaged 10,000 people lost their lives. Also in the year 2005 severe
flood occurred in this region affected the Agriculture land during harvesting period. The cyclone
named “Nisha” occurred with the intensity of T-3.0, wind pressure is 45 knots, 83 km/ph speedof occurred and loss of life 78 over state during 24th to 28th November, 2008 in Nagapattinam
region due to heavy rainfall. Cyclonic storm Nilam was reported as tropical cyclone and directly
affected the south India. Cyclone “Jal” in 2010 occurred around 33 people was killed. Cyclone“Thane” occurred in 2011 with the speed of 140 km/ph, hit the Tamil Nadu coastal areas near
Cuddalore on Friday, 30, 2011, Nagapattinam and Cuddalore witnessed heavy wind andrainfall. Thane cyclone especially severe damaged to agriculture, tree covers, settlement in theplace of the eastern coastal areas of Nagapattinam district.
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Subsequently in October 2012 low pressure in formed in the Bay of Bengal near
Nagapattinam caused heavy rainfall and severe flood occurred totally 5486 ha affected by flood
water around 3150 people were affected lost their properties and evacuated. Another extreme
event named “Madi” cyclone storm crossed the Nagapattinam coastal areas in December 2013
heavy rainfall and flooding occurred, caused damaged. Record keeping began in 1871, but aworsen northeast monsoon, which sweeps across Tamil Nadu, between October and December
was recorded in 876, making 2016 the year of the second worst monsoon in 145 years.
Table 03: History of Natural Disasters in the Past Five Decades
Occurrence Date
Calamity
Damages
30.11.1952
storm surge in land up to 5 miles 400 lives
7 lives lost and 15,000
08.12.1967
Cyclonerendered homeless
560 lives lost and 196
missing. Damages to port,
irrigation systems, road,
12.11.1977
Cyclonepower supply andcommunication including
large number of houses
Crops damaged in large scale
01.12.1984
Floods due to heavy rain
and normal life affected dueto heavy floods
15.11.1991
Heavy rainfall
Crops damaged
1100 people lost their lives,
04.12.1993
Cyclone speed 188 km/ph
severe damage to crops
29.10.2004/Nov
Crops damaged, around
Floods due to heavy rain
2004
12,000 houses damaged
6065 dead and 1922 injured.
12,821 cattle lost, large
26.12.2004
Tsunami (Indian Ocean)
number of houses, boats andinfrastructure damaged
Crops damaged, and several
Nisha Cyclone, due to heavy rain led to28.11.2008
houses affected aroundflood
Nagapattinam and Cuddalore
Cyclone killed as 33 person
31.12.2011
Thane cyclone, speed140 km/ph
and standing crops on around
25,000 acres.
30.10.2012
Nilam cyclone, weak depression 550 km
Crops damaged
12.12.2013
Madi cyclone, Heavy rainfall
Low lying area only damaged
Crops damaged in large scale
01.12.2016
Nada cyclone, Deep depression
and normal life affected dueto heavy rainfall
Source: www.nagapattinam.nic.in

Recommendation
1. Move away from low-lying beaches or other location, which may be swept by high tides orstorm waves. Leave sufficiently early before your way to high ground gets flooded. Do notdelay and run the risk of being marooned.

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2. Keep your T.V., Radio on and listen to latest weather warnings and advisories from theDoordharsan All India Radio station. Pass on the information to others as quickly aspossible.
3. Be alert for high water in areas where streams of rivers may flood due to heavy rains.
4. If your house is out of danger from high tides and flooding from the river and it is well built itis then probably the best place to weather the storm. However please act promptly if asked
to evacuate.
5. Remove cattle to safe place as far away as possible.
6. If the centre of eye of the storm passes directly over your place, there will be wind and rain
lasting for half an hour or more. During this period stay in a safe place. Make emergency
repairs during the pre-monsoon period, if necessary, but remember that strong winds will
return suddenly from the opposite direction, frequently with even greater velocity.
Conclusion
The rainfall data were analysed graphically and found out the rainfall variations in last sixdecades. Rainfall data for 32 years analysed in season wise to assess the changes in therainfall pattern and to identify the drought and extreme flood events in the study area. The resultof the paper revealed that the rains may cause heavy inflow of water in the rivers and jungle
streams, odais etc. These water courses then become too narrow to carry large volume of water
which flows. Therefore the water overflows thereby breaching embankments, causes enormous
damages to houses, huts, agricultural lands, roads, telephone lines, railway tracks, electricitylines and other public properties. It is not feasible to completely prevent nature's fury at onestroke.
References
1. Gurugnanam .B, Suresh. M, Vinoth. M. and Kumaravel. S (2010) High/Low Rainfall Domain
Demarcation Mapping Using GIS at Salem District, Central Tamil Nadu. (ISSN 0974 6846).Indian Journal of Science and Technology. Vol. 3. No.5. pp.542-545.
2. Ishappa Muniyappa Rathod and Aruchamy. S., (2010), Spatial Analysis of Rainfall Variationin Coimbatore District Tamil Nadu using GIS, International Journal of Geomatics andGeosciences Volume 1, No 2,
3. Jain and Kumar (2012). Trend analysis of rainfall and temperature data for India SK Jain, VKumar Current Science (Bangalore) 102 (1), pp 37-49
4. Kain, J.S., (2002), “The kain-Fritsch Convective Parameterization: An update”, Journal ofApplied Meteorology, v.43, pp.170-181.
5. Mckee, T., Doeskin, N., and Kliest, J., (1993), the relationship of drought frequency andduration to timescale, Proceeding of 8th conference on Applied Climatology, pp.17-22,
Boston, AMS.
6. Parthasarathy, B., Rupakumar, K., and Munot, A., (1993), Homogenious Indian Monsoon
rainfall; Variability and prediction, Journal of Earth System Sciences, v.102, pp.121 -155.
7. Seetharam, K., (2013) Rainfall analysis over Rayala seema meteorological division,Mausam.
8. Suhatha Rahima. S, Gurugnanam. Band Isai. R, (2013), Climate change signals fromseasonal and annual rainfall trend (1951 -2011) in Tamil Nadu India, Journal of Research,Development and Extension, (ISSN 2319-1899) v.1 no.11 pp.178-184.
9. Venkat Raman A.T.V.R, Gurugnanam B, and Arunkumar. M, (2013), One decade hydrometeorological data assessment through statistics, Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu, South India(ISSN 0976 – 4380), v.3 pp.659-667.

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