most of the districts in the Kosi, Gandak, and Sone Basins. Sridhar and Raviraj
(2017) noticed a rising trend in northeast monsoon rainfall over the Amaravathi
River Basin. Jain et al. (2017) found an increasing trend in rainy days over the
Baitarani, Brahamani, and Cauvery River Basins but declining trends over the
Krishna, Godavari, Mahanadi, Narmada, and Sabarmati Basins. Bisht (2018)
found a decreasing trend in seasonal and annual rainfall, although an increasing
trend in extreme rainfall events, over 62 of 85 river basins in India after 1970. Biswas
et al. (2019) noticed a decline in rainfall amounts over upper Godavari Basin. Singh
and Singh (2020) witnessed a decreasing trend in rainfall over the Suketi River
Basin. Tirkey et al. (2020) have witnessed both rising and falling trends in monthly
and seasonal rainfall over different subwatersheds of the Sutlej River Basin.
Further, in India, Rajasthan State is characterized by the highest likelihood of
rainfall deficiencies and drought occurrences (Rathore 2005). The distribution of
rainfall in Rajasthan is very uneven and differs considerably from region to region
and year to year (Pingale et al. 2014). The state is highly dependent upon rainfall as it
is among the important sources of groundwater recharge (Machiwal et al. 2017).
Any change in rainfall pattern may affect the water resources and subsequently the
agriculture of the state (Yadav et al. 2018). In this arid and semiarid state, the
importance of understanding rainfall variability is high when its quantity is less
and it is rarer in occurrence, making it challenging to effectively plan and manage the
existing water resources (Meena et al. 2019). Therefore, several researchers have
investigated rainfall trends and patterns for Rajasthan State (Rao et al. 2011, 2014;
Singh et al. 2012; Pingale et al. 2014; Poonia et al. 2014; Mundetia and Sharma
2015; Machiwal and Jha 2017; Srivastava and Pradhan 2018; Meena et al. 2019).
These studies have focused on either the entire state or different districts to examine
rainfall trends. However, no study has focused on the trends and patterns of rainfall
over a particular river basin.
Sahibi River is known for destructive floods in parts of Rajasthan State and the
adjoining Haryana State during monsoon months. Such floods often inundate wide
areas, causing huge damage to property and agriculture, and bringing misery to the
community such as epidemics and loss of life (Parmar 2014). Thus, detailed information related to long-term trends and pattern of rainfall over the Sahibi Basin can be
very helpful in the development and management of water resources. Therefore, the
present study has been undertaken to examine the long-term trends and patterns of
rainfall over the semiarid Sahibi Basin. It is believed that the findings of this study
will provide understanding regarding rainfall trends and pattern, which will help
policy makers to develop efficient plans to mitigate the risks of droughts and floods
by proper management of water resources.
Study Area
The Sahibi River (also known as Sahbi and Sabi) is a tributary of the Yamuna River,
located in the northeastern part of Rajasthan State in India. The basin spreads over an
area of approximately 4524 km
2 and extends between 27
20
0 50
00 to 28
14
0 01
00 N
12 Trends and Pattern of Rainfall over Semiarid Sahibi Basin in Rajasthan, India
275
(2017) noticed a rising trend in northeast monsoon rainfall over the Amaravathi
River Basin. Jain et al. (2017) found an increasing trend in rainy days over the
Baitarani, Brahamani, and Cauvery River Basins but declining trends over the
Krishna, Godavari, Mahanadi, Narmada, and Sabarmati Basins. Bisht (2018)
found a decreasing trend in seasonal and annual rainfall, although an increasing
trend in extreme rainfall events, over 62 of 85 river basins in India after 1970. Biswas
et al. (2019) noticed a decline in rainfall amounts over upper Godavari Basin. Singh
and Singh (2020) witnessed a decreasing trend in rainfall over the Suketi River
Basin. Tirkey et al. (2020) have witnessed both rising and falling trends in monthly
and seasonal rainfall over different subwatersheds of the Sutlej River Basin.
Further, in India, Rajasthan State is characterized by the highest likelihood of
rainfall deficiencies and drought occurrences (Rathore 2005). The distribution of
rainfall in Rajasthan is very uneven and differs considerably from region to region
and year to year (Pingale et al. 2014). The state is highly dependent upon rainfall as it
is among the important sources of groundwater recharge (Machiwal et al. 2017).
Any change in rainfall pattern may affect the water resources and subsequently the
agriculture of the state (Yadav et al. 2018). In this arid and semiarid state, the
importance of understanding rainfall variability is high when its quantity is less
and it is rarer in occurrence, making it challenging to effectively plan and manage the
existing water resources (Meena et al. 2019). Therefore, several researchers have
investigated rainfall trends and patterns for Rajasthan State (Rao et al. 2011, 2014;
Singh et al. 2012; Pingale et al. 2014; Poonia et al. 2014; Mundetia and Sharma
2015; Machiwal and Jha 2017; Srivastava and Pradhan 2018; Meena et al. 2019).
These studies have focused on either the entire state or different districts to examine
rainfall trends. However, no study has focused on the trends and patterns of rainfall
over a particular river basin.
Sahibi River is known for destructive floods in parts of Rajasthan State and the
adjoining Haryana State during monsoon months. Such floods often inundate wide
areas, causing huge damage to property and agriculture, and bringing misery to the
community such as epidemics and loss of life (Parmar 2014). Thus, detailed information related to long-term trends and pattern of rainfall over the Sahibi Basin can be
very helpful in the development and management of water resources. Therefore, the
present study has been undertaken to examine the long-term trends and patterns of
rainfall over the semiarid Sahibi Basin. It is believed that the findings of this study
will provide understanding regarding rainfall trends and pattern, which will help
policy makers to develop efficient plans to mitigate the risks of droughts and floods
by proper management of water resources.
Study Area
The Sahibi River (also known as Sahbi and Sabi) is a tributary of the Yamuna River,
located in the northeastern part of Rajasthan State in India. The basin spreads over an
area of approximately 4524 km
2 and extends between 27
20
0 50
00 to 28
14
0 01
00 N
12 Trends and Pattern of Rainfall over Semiarid Sahibi Basin in Rajasthan, India
275