Decadal surface temperature trends in India based on a new high-resolution data set.

Area of Science:

• Climatology
• Atmospheric Science
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Surface temperature data is crucial for understanding climate change impacts.
• India's diverse climate patterns necessitate detailed regional analysis.
• Anthropogenic aerosols can significantly influence local and regional temperatures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze seven decades of Indian surface temperature changes.
• To investigate regional temperature patterns across different seasons.
• To explore the role of brown haze in observed temperature trends.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a comprehensive surface temperature dataset for India.
• Subdivided temperature data into pre-monsoon, monsoon, and post-monsoon periods.
• Compared decade-mean temperatures from the 1950s to the 2000s.

Main Results:

• Observed consistent warming in northwestern and southern India.
• Identified a cooling trend in a zone across northeastern and central India.
• Attributed these patterns to the radiative and dynamic effects of anthropogenic brown haze.

Conclusions:

• Brown haze significantly alters Indian temperature distribution.
• Aerosol-induced warming of the haze layer and subsequent subsidence warming explain regional patterns.
• These temperature shifts have potential implications for Indian agriculture.