Searching evidence for the existence of evaporation paradox in arid environments of northwest India

Trends in pan evaporation (E_pan) and temperature were identified through the Mann-Kendall test over Jaisalmer to probe the existence of evaporation paradox in arid environments of Thar Desert, northwest India. We also analyzed trends in rainfall, relative humidity, wind speed, and sunshine duration in the context of climate change. Decreasing trends in E_pan were witnessed over Jaisalmer in the months of January, June, October and November in the range of -2.04 to -4.1 mm/year. Significant rainfall decreases were witnessed in the three crucial months of monsoon season, i.e., July, August and September, in range of -0.23 to -1.25 mm/year. Increasing trends in mean temperature were witnessed corresponding to annual and monthly (January, April, September, October and November) time scales in the range of 0.03 to 0.07 °C/year. The simultaneous E_pan decrease and temperature rise at Jaisalmer confirmed the existence of evaporation paradox in the months of winter and post-monsoon seasons, which may be due to decreases in wind speed and bright sunshine hours. The increase in temperature along with decreases in E_pan, rainfall, sunshine duration, and wind speed over Jaisalmer may have far reaching consequences for the fragile ecosystem of the Thar Desert.