Abstract:
The surface air temperature holds the highest significance as it impacts the other weather elements
in a particular area. Rising surface air temperatures are linked to widespread changes in
weather patterns, which have further effects on human health and well-being, agriculture, and
ecosystems. Many scholars have studied temperature trends in Sri Lanka; however, district-level
analyses in agriculturally dominant areas, such as Badulla, remain limited. The objective of this
research was to fill this gap and analyse the trends and changes in the surface air temperature in
the Badulla District from 1993 to 2022. The surface air temperature data were obtained from
the Sri Lankan Meteorological Department. The averages of surface air temperature data for the
periods of 1993-2002, 2003-2012, and 2013-2022 were studied. Mann-Kendall (MK) test and
Sen’s slope estimation were employed to identify temperature trends and to determine the magnitude
of those trends. The findings suggest that the surface air temperature at Badulla in May
was the hottest month in three decades, and a similar feature is also seen in Bandarawela for
the first two decades. The months of January and December were the coldest months across all
three decades in both areas. The study revealed statistically significant decreasing trends in the
monthly minimum surface air temperature in Badulla for November and December. Monthly
maximum surface air temperatures in Badulla showed statistically significant decreasing trends
from February to October, with rates ranging from 0.04°C to 0.08°C per year. It could be concluded
that the direction and magnitude of the temperature trends differ within the district. The
findings highlight the need for location-specific climate adaptation strategies in Badulla District,
particularly to support agriculture, water management, and tourism planning.
