Unusual temperature spike in Rajouri raises concern among agrometeorology experts

Rajouri, Mar 7: A sharp and unusual spike in temperature has been recorded in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, with the day’s maximum temperature rising nearly 10 degrees Celsius above the seasonal average, raising concern among agrometeorology experts over changing weather patterns in the region.

Rajouri, a border district, usually experiences a mixed climatic pattern where the temperature rarely exceeds 41 degrees Celsius even during peak summer.

However, during the first week of March this year, an unusual rise in temperature has been recorded, a trend that is reportedly being observed across several parts of Jammu and Kashmir.

The temperature data has been recorded at the Regional Agriculture Research Station (RARS) Rajouri operating under the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu.

The station houses a dedicated Agrometeorology Observatory where weather parameters are monitored on a daily basis, with temperature readings taken three times a day through both conventional manual weather instruments and a digital weather monitoring system.

Dr Rohit Sharma, Agrometeorology expert overseeing the observatory, stated that the average maximum temperature in Rajouri during the first week of March generally remains between 19 and 24 degrees Celsius, which is considered ideal for the growth of local crops.

However, this year a significant rise of nearly 10 degrees Celsius has been recorded.

He said that on March 5, the observatory recorded a maximum temperature of 33.8 degrees Celsius, which is almost 10 degrees higher than the normal temperature for this period.

According to Dr Sharma, this is the highest day temperature recorded in the first week of March in Rajouri during the last two decades since records have been maintained at the station.

Dr Sharma further informed that the previous highest temperature recorded during the same period was 27 degrees Celsius in the year 2016.

He expressed concern that such a sharp rise in temperature indicates a disturbing weather pattern and also attributed the phenomenon primarily to factors such as global warming and an acute lack of rainfall in the region.

Meanwhile, senior scientist and incharge of RARS Rajouri, Dr Vikas Sharma, said that the district is currently witnessing a rainfall deficit ranging between 65 to 70 percent.

He added that the prolonged dry spell has caused the groundwater table to decline significantly, while the extremely dry weather conditions are adversely impacting daily life.

Dr Vikas Sharma warned that the rainfall deficit coupled with rising temperatures could severely affect crop yield of the crops already sown in the fields.

He also cautioned that the prevailing climatic conditions may have potential implications for human health if the trend continues in the coming weeks.