Annual and seasonal rainfall variability at taluk level for Belagavi district in Karnataka

Abstract

Rainfall variability strongly influences agriculture and water management in semi-arid regions. This study analyzedthe spatial and seasonal rainfall patterns across 15 taluks of Belagavi district in Karnataka using 30 years daily gridded datafrom the India Meteorological Department for the period 1995 to 2024. Results highlight pronounced disparities acrosstaluks. Winter rainfall was highly negligible, ranging from 2.0 mm for Raibag to 4.8 mm for Savadatti, with very highvariability exceeding 150% and peaking at 277.9% for Savadatti. Summer rainfall, though modest, was agriculturallysignificant, varying between 65.1 mm for Gokak and 136.9 mm for Kitthuru taluk with a variability ranging from 53.1% for Kitthuru to 91.5% for Yaragatti taluk, reflecting highly localized thunderstorms events. To the annual total rainfall 60 to70% is contributed during monsoon as Kitturu taluk received the highest of 660.8 mm, while Khanapur and Belagavi taluks613 mm, whereas Athani and Raibag taluks received <350 mm. Variability was the lowest for Athani at 28.3% and thehighest for Hukkeri at 51.8%. Post-monsoon rainfall ranged from 137.0 mm for Gokak to 164.6 mm for Kitturu with moremoderate variability between 42.4 and 63.8%. Annual rainfall totals varied nearly two-fold, from 526.8 mm for Gokak to966.6 mm for Kitthuru, with variability ranging from 24.4% for Athani to 41.5% for Hukkeri. These findings emphasize theneed for location-specific water management and climate-resilient agriculture practices in Belagavi district.