Recent trends in the climate of Bangladesh

Rainfall and temperature data recorded at 17 meteorological stations over the time period 1958-2007 were used to assess recent changes in the climate of Bangladesh. The results show increasing mean, mean maximum and mean minimum temperatures at a rate of 0.103, 0.091 and 0.097 degrees C per decade, respectively. More warming was observed for winter compared to other seasons. Increases in annual and pre-monsoon rainfall were also observed at a rate of 5.53 and 2.47 mm yr(-1), respectively. The spatial pattern of rainfall trends shows an increase in annual, monsoon and premonsoon rainfall in the western part of Bangladesh. The findings of the present study are consistent with the results obtained in other parts of the Indian subcontinent.