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Rainfall Variations of Sri Lanka, Part 2: regional gluctuations

Variationen des Niederschlags in Sri Lanka. Teil 2: Regionale Fluktuationen

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Summary

Based on the regional division of another paper [39], the rainfall variations of Sri Lanka have been investigated for the respective regions by power spectrum analysis and filtering methods, making use of data for the period from 1881 to 1980. The 3–4 year periodicity was observed over the entire island, but other cycles differ from region to region. The 13–16 months oscillation arises in Regions A, D and E, which roughly correspond to the Wet Zone and Dry Zone. The 10 and 2 year oscillations emerge in Regions A, B and C, where the southwest monsoon dominates the fluctuation patterns. In particular, it was confirmed that the quasi-biennial oscillation is not only in Sri Lanka, but also in other low latitude countries. The quasi-five year oscillation is noticed in Regions D and E, where the northeast monsoon influences on the fluctuation patterns. Irregularities in amplitude and in phase changes were noticed in their longer period fluctuation.

Zusammenfassung

Aufgrund einer früher vorgenommenen regionalen Einteilung [39] wurden die Niederschlagsvariationen in Sri Lanka für die einzelnen Regionen mit Spektralanalyse und Filterungsmethoden unter Verwendung von Beobachtungsdaten aus der Periode 1881–1980 untersucht. Die 3- bis 4jährige Periodizität wurde auf der ganzen Insel festgestellt; aber andere Zyklen unterscheiden sich von Region zu Region. Eine 13- bis 16monatige Oszillation zeigt sich in den Regionen A, D und E, die ungefähr der Feuchtzone und der Trockenzone entsprechen. 10- bis 2jährige Oszillationen treten in den Regionen A, B und C auf, wo der Südwestmonsun die Fluktuationsformen beherrscht. Im besonderen wurde festgestellt, daß die quasi-zweijährige Oszillation nicht nur in Sri Lanka, sondern auch in anderen Ländern niedriger Breiten vorkommt. Eine quasifünfjährige Oszillation wurde in den Regionen D und E festgestellt, wo der Nordostmonsun die Fluktuationsformen beeinflußt. Unregelmäßigkeiten in der Amplitude und in Phasenänderungen wurden in ihrer längerperiodischen Fluktuation festgestellt.

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  1. Institute of Geoscience, The University of Tsukuba, Sakura-mura, Niihari-gun, 305, Ibaraki, Japan

    R. Suppiah &  M. M. Yoshino

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  1. R. Suppiah
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Suppiah, R., Yoshino, M.M. Rainfall Variations of Sri Lanka, Part 2: regional gluctuations. Arch. Met. Geoph. Biocl., Ser. B 35, 81–92 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02269411

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