Temporal trends in frost occurrence and their prediction models using multivariate statistical techniques for two diverse locations of Northern India

Prediction of local scale frost events can be helpful for farmers to minimize crop loss due to frost damage. This study aims to detect a temporal trend in the occurrence of frost events and develop frost prediction models using multivariate statistical techniques like logistic regression, artificial neural network model, and thumb rules for two diverse locations of India (Palampur and Ludhiana). In these statistical models, eight daily meteorological parameters viz., maximum temperature (Tmax), minimum temperature (Tmin), wind speed, precipitation, sunshine duration, cumulative pan evaporation, morning relative humidity (RH1), and afternoon relative humidity (RH2) 1 to 5 days preceding the frost events for the period of 2004–2016 and 1982–2013 at Palampur and Ludhiana, respectively were used. Principal Component Analysis was performed to select the weather parameter that has maximum effect on the occurrence of frost event. Ten different skill scores like accuracy, bias, and probability of false detection were used to evaluate the accuracy of frost prediction models. The Mann–Kendall trend test showed a significant increasing annual trend in the number of frost events at Ludhiana, with a remarkable increase in December. The results also showed that lower afternoon relative humidity 1-day preceding the frost event at Palampur and calm wind and lower evaporation 1-day preceding at Ludhiana augmented the occurrence of frost events. Among the techniques for developing frost prediction models, the logistic regression model performed better over artificial neural network and thumb rule-based models. The logistic regression model performed better for the plain region (Ludhiana) than for the hilly area (Palampur). The developed models are most suitable for predicting the radiation frost.