GUWAHATI, March 9 � Winter chill in Guwahati was normal on an average for the past about 43 years since 1971. This has become evident from the results of an analysis made on the minimum temperature days during the months of January and February for the period.
Analysing the relevant data to assess the situation during this era of climate change, Borjhar-based Regional Meteorology Centre (RMC) meteorologist Sunit Das told this newspaper in an exclusive interview that till February 21 last, 32 days witnessed the normal minimum temperature during the period.
During the period, the city experienced above normal minimum temperature of winter season for 15 days, while it experienced below normal minimum temperature for 12 days during the season.
In the month of January, the city experienced normal minimum temperature for 18 days, above normal minimum temperature for seven days and below normal minimum temperature for six days. In February, the city experienced normal minimum temperature for 14 days, above normal minimum temperature for eight days and below normal minimum temperature for six days during this four decades.
During the 1971-1980 decade, for five years � 1971, �72, �75, �77, �79 � the number of normal minimum temperature days of the season was less than the average. In 1973, the number of above normal minimum temperature days of the season was either more than or equal to the average in this regard. In 1973 and 1976, the number of below normal minimum temperature days of the season was less than or equal to the average.
During 1981-1990 decade, in two years � 1983 and 1984 � the number of normal minimum temperature days of the season was less than the average. In four years � 1981, �85, �88, �90 � the number of above normal minimum temperature days of the season was either more than or equal to the average. In seven years � 1981, �82, �85, �88, �90 � the number of below normal minimum temperature days was either less than or equal to the average.
In the 1991-2000 decade, the number of normal minimum temperature days of the season was less than the average for five years. The number of above normal minimum temperature days of the season was either more than or equal to the average for six years, while the number of below normal minimum days of the season was either less than or equal to the average for six years, Das said.
In the 2001-2011 decade, the number of above normal minimum temperature days of the season was less than the average for eight years, while for nine years, the number of above normal minimum temperature days of the season was either more than or equal to the average. For one year, the number of below normal minimum temperature days of the season was either less than or equal to the average.
During the current decade, that is 2011-2014, the number of normal minimum temperature days of the season was less than the average. There is no record so far of any of the years experiencing either more than or equal to the average in matters of above normal minimum temperature. The year 2011 recorded the number of days with below normal minimum temperature days of the season less than the average in this respect, said the meteorologist.
