Climate Change in Central Highlands of Sri Lanka (1866-2019)

Abstract

The article presents the results of the analysis of climate change in the Сentral Highlands of Sri Lanka for the long-term period of observation (1866–2021). The values of average seasonal air temperatures indicate a high degree of uniformity of the temperature regime of the tested area during the year. The coefficients of variation characterizing the temporary heterogeneity of the temperature during the observation period depend on the altitude above sea level and varied from 1.6–2.1% (477 m) to 3.1–5.6% (1880 m). It is established that the seasonal average air temperature in most part of the tested area (670–1880 m above the sea level) has been significantly increased at a rate of 0.007–0.014°C/year, but at an altitude of 477 m (Kandy) had no significant differences throughout the entire observation period (112 years). It is shown that the dynamics of the average seasonal precipitation sums was characterized by a much higher degree of heterogeneity: the coefficients of variation of this indicator varied from 28 to 46%. The most significant changes in precipitation sums in the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka relate to the southwest monsoon season (May–September). During the southwest rainy season at an altitude of 477 m (Kandy) and 1880 m (Nuwara Eliya), precipitation sums have decreased linearly at a rate of –2.2 ± 0.4 and –3.44 ± 0.54 mm/year respectively. A significant decrease in precipitation was also detected during the northeast monsoon season (December–February) at an altitude of 670 m (Badulla).