Understanding the intricacies of rainfall dynamics using entropy measures

ABSTRACT The present study quantifies the variability of rainfall dynamics across multiple time-periods and various entropy measures. Daily gridded rainfall from 1951 to 2020 was used to study Haryana, India, based on entropy and advanced statistical methods. The post-monsoon season had high variability for Sirsa and Palwal districts due to the variation occurring in October and December. This means these months are responsible for causing variations in the winter season. Similarly, during the monsoon season, low variability was found in Panchkula, Ambala, Yamunanagar, and some parts of Kurukshetra due to low variability in July. It was also observed that intra-variability in both rainfall amounts and rainy days increased with an increase in the time scale for all districts in Haryana. However, inconsistency on rainy days was more pronounced than rainfall amounts, which further means that the distribution of rainfall intensity was highly inconsistent in the study region. This study provides valuable insights into regional rainfall characteristics, and it assists local farmers in adapting to resilient crop varieties and efficient water-management practices, especially during crop harvesting and planting. Also, those in urban planning, disaster vigilance, and many others may consider this study to make districts resilient and adaptable.