Geospatial understanding of climate parameters within watershed boundaries of India

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Photo by Jamie Ginsberg on Unsplash

Photo by Jamie Ginsberg on Unsplash

Why is it important?

We have analyzed the geospatial datasets such as precipitation, runoff, soil moisture, aridity, soil degradation, and future (2050) climate of India and investigated the spatial distribution pattern at the watershed level. Furthermore, we have investigated the long-term TerraClimate present decadal (2006–2015) trend with 20 years back decadal (1976–1985) data for evaluating temporal change in precipitation, runoff, and soil moisture at the watershed level of India. The long term decadal precipitations, as well as soil moisture deficit trend, are found very significant in the watersheds of the Ganga and Brahmaputra basin. The decadal runoff increase (%), when compared with 20 years back decadal runoff showed a high percent (> 50%) increase in the majority of Sabarmati river basin in Gujarat state of India. The three villages Milkipur, Bikapur, and Bantikalan (Faizabad district of Uttar Pradesh) have shown a maximum reduction of soil moisture. The analysis of predicted (2050) temperature and precipitation anomaly showed the precipitation deficit in the majority of watersheds of Indus river basin and their sub-basin. Similarly, the temperature increase in the year 2050 is found very significant in almost all watersheds of India with a range of 0.8 to 1.9 °C but it is more crucial for some of the northern parts of Indus river basin and Brahmaputra basin. Such analysis highlights the need for an adequate management plan with robust soil and water conservation at a watershed level for achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs).