Assessment of spatio-temporal variability of temperature using geo-statistical techniques: a case study of Upper Teesta River Basin, India

Mountainous regions are conspicuous due to their inimitable natural features. Natural regions are becoming progressively pretentious owing to the temperature variability pattern. Assessing temperature variability is vital to comprehend the physiography of these regions. Upper Teesta basin portrays a unique blend of a sub-tropical climate in the south and tundra type in the north. The Teesta river is considered as the lifeline of Sikkim, lies in the tundra type of climate covering the northern portion, where at least three months (November–January) of a year remain under deep snow and temperature hovering around 0 °C. The upper Teesta river basin covers the whole part of Sikkim scheming the lifestyle and occupation of the people based on the availability of its waters. Atmospheric temperature plays a crucial role in determining stream properties and water volume. Mean monthly temperature data acquired from India Meteorological Department as well as The National Centre for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) have been analysed with the help of kurtosis, skewness, and visualization done through Z-distribution in GIS environment. It provides a strategic outlook towards the proper utilization of the river water despite maintaining harmony with the climate of the region. The result depicts changes in the river itinerary concerning climatic variability pattern that calls for sustainable management of this water resource.