%0 Journal Article
%T Temporal Patterns of the Two-Dimensional Spatial Trends in Summer Temperature and Monsoon Precipitation of Bangladesh
%A Avit Kumar Bhowmik
%J ISRN Atmospheric Sciences
%D 2013
%R 10.1155/2013/148538
%X Two climate indices, TXx and PRCPTOT, representing the summer maximum temperature and annual total monsoon precipitation, respectively, in Bangladesh were computed. The temperature and precipitation measurements from 34 meteorological stations during the temporal extent of 1948¨C2007 were applied for indicesĄŻ computation under thorough quality control. The spatial trends of the indices were analyzed by applying two-dimensional least square approach along latitudes and longitudes of the observation points. The temporal patterns of the spatial trends were identified by temporally interpolating them applying thin plate smoothing spline method. The analyses of TXx identified regional scale spatial trends in the east-west and south-north directions, which were increasing between 1948 and 1980s. After the 1980s the spatial trends started decreasing, and after 2000 the spatial trend along the south-north changed its direction to the north-south and continued until present. The analyses of the PRCPTOT identified spatial trends in the west-east and north-south directions, which were decreasing between 1948 and 1980s and thereafter increasing until present. About half of the spatial trends were significant in F-statistics at or more than 90% confidence level. Thus, the obtained results indicated a significant climatic shift within the regional scale of the country during the study period. 1. Introduction In light of the recent climatic change concern, evidence has been presented that the indices for seasonal temperature and precipitation show augmented responses to the actual mean climatic trend [1, 2]. The global multidimensional trends of such climate indices have already been analyzed by incorporating several anthropogenic and natural factors, to predict the pattern of climate change [3¨C5]. As IPCC [6, 7] put emphasis on the need for detailed information of regional patterns of climate change, trends in seasonal climatic events and their statistical significance have also been analyzed in different regions of the world, that is, in Nigeria [8], Australia [9], Asia and central Pacific [10], UK [11], and some parts of India [12]. These studies represent that the regional spatiotemporal trends of temperature and precipitation are more complex and significant than the global trends; they are particularly significant for the regions that have already been under climate change stress, such as Bangladesh. Bangladesh, situated in south-east Asia, is one of the most vulnerable countries of the world regarding the adverse impacts of anthropogenic climate change [13¨C17].
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn.atmospheric.sciences/2013/148538/