Switch to desktop mode for a better experience.

Annual and Seasonal Mean Temperature Range in India from 2001 to 2023

UID: EN-20240829-IN-02

Download

Meta Data

Source

EnviStats India 2024

Last Updated

September 2, 2024

Time Range

2001-2023

Periodicity

Annual

Overview

Maximum and minimum annual or seasonal mean temperature refers to the range between the highest and lowest average temperatures recorded over a year or a particular season. These measurements are typically expressed in degrees Celsius (°C). Maximum annual mean temperature is the highest average temperature recorded throughout the year for a specific location. Minimum annual mean temperature is the lowest average temperature for the same period. Similarly, for seasonal mean temperatures, we analyze the maximum and minimum temperatures within specific seasons like summer, winter, spring, and autumn. The difference between maximum and minimum mean temperatures—often referred to as temperature range—provides valuable information about the variability in temperature for a given region over different periods. This difference can be slight in more stable climates (like coastal regions) or large in areas with significant seasonal changes (like continental or desert regions).

Trends & Insights

Overall, there’s a noticeable warming trend in both minimum and maximum temperatures across the annual averages. The annual minimum temperature has increased from 20.45°C in 2001 to 20.98°C in 2023, while the maximum temperature rose from 30.77°C to 31.31°C over the same period. This consistent increase suggests a gradual warming of India’s climate over the past two decades. The year 2016 stands out with the highest annual maximum temperature of 31.54°C, indicating it was likely the hottest year in this dataset. Similarly, 2022 and 2023 show the highest annual minimum temperatures (20.95°C and 20.98°C respectively), suggesting that nights and early mornings have been getting warmer in recent years. Seasonal analysis reveals interesting patterns. The Jan-Feb winter season shows a clear warming trend in minimum temperatures, rising from 14.58°C in 2001 to 15.22°C in 2023. This could indicate milder winters over time, potentially affecting agriculture and winter tourism. The Mar-May pre-monsoon season, typically the hottest period, shows considerable fluctuation in maximum temperatures. The highest reading was in 2010 at 34.84°C, with recent years like 2022 also showing high values (34.49°C). This suggests an intensification of heat waves during these months, which could have significant implications for public health and energy demand for cooling. The monsoon season (June-Sept) shows a gradual increase in both minimum and maximum temperatures. The minimum temperature rose from 24.1°C in 2001 to 24.8°C in 2023, while the maximum increased from 31.72°C to 32.73°C. This warming trend during the crucial monsoon months could potentially affect rainfall patterns and agricultural productivity. The post-monsoon season (Oct-Dec) also exhibits a warming trend, particularly in minimum temperatures, which increased from 17.92°C in 2001 to 18.89°C in 2023. This could lead to extended summer-like conditions and delayed onset of winter. It’s worth noting that the temperature ranges between minimum and maximum temperatures have generally remained consistent over the years, suggesting that while overall temperatures are increasing, the daily temperature variation isn’t changing dramatically. These trends align with global climate change observations, indicating that India is experiencing the effects of global warming. The increasing temperatures, especially in minimum temperatures, could have far-reaching impacts on agriculture, water resources, energy demand, and human health across the country. The data underscores the need for climate adaptation strategies and mitigation efforts to address the challenges posed by rising temperatures in India.

T&Cs for reusing this data 

All data, visualizations, and code generated by 360 Analytika are fully open access. You are free to use, distribute, and reproduce these materials in any medium, provided proper credit is given to the source and authors. We kindly request that you include a backlink to our website/article, when using these materials.

Citation

Please cite this article using proper attribution to 360 Analytika when referencing or sharing our content.

EnviStats India 2024. (2024). Annual and seasonal mean temperature range in India from 2001 to 2023 (360 Analytika, Ed.) [Dataset]. 360 Analytika. https://360analytika.com/annual-and-seasonal-mean-temperature-range-in-india/

Other Data Explorers