Climate Change Impact on Water Cycle in India

Current Affairs National

Posted by newadmin on 2025-04-16 08:49:42 |

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Recent studies have revealed that climate change is poised to significantly disrupt the water cycle in the southern Western Ghats and adjacent coastal regions of India. With rising global temperatures, scientists are warning of a dramatic increase in rainfall and extreme weather events across these areas. The findings highlight an urgent need for proactive adaptation strategies to reduce the potential impacts on agriculture, hydropower systems, and the livelihoods of local communities.

According to the research, for every 1°C rise in temperature, annual rainfall in the region could surge by as much as 20%. Additionally, extreme precipitation events are expected to increase by 16%, creating further risks for both infrastructure and natural ecosystems. By the end of the century, total annual rainfall could rise by 250 to 400 millimetres under moderate climate projections, and by 200 to 670 millimetres if emissions continue at high levels.

The region’s hydrological cycle is expected to undergo a major shift, especially during the Indian Summer Monsoon. Using advanced climate modelling tools, researchers simulated future climate and water trends, predicting that monsoon seasons will become increasingly wetter, while pre-monsoon periods will become drier. This uneven distribution of rainfall could heighten the chances of floods, landslides, and water shortages, thereby threatening both the environment and human settlements.

Temperature increases also pose a major concern. The maximum temperatures across the region are projected to rise between 1.7°C and 3.2°C, while minimum temperatures may climb by 1.9°C to 3.6°C. These changes could undermine agricultural productivity, stress freshwater ecosystems, and place greater pressure on energy resources. In light of this, the adoption of sustainable practices is seen as a critical step toward building resilience in vulnerable sectors.

The study stresses the importance of region-specific adaptation planning. This includes enhancing short-term water storage systems and implementing integrated water resource management strategies that take local needs into account. Such efforts are vital to protect essential services like farming and hydropower, and to ensure the long-term wellbeing of the communities that depend on them.

Conducted by a team led by Jobin Thomas at the University of Mississippi, this research was published in the Journal of Environmental Management and supported by India’s Department of Science and Technology. It offers crucial insight into how hydrological systems in the southern Western Ghats may respond to climate change, providing a foundation for future planning and mitigation efforts.

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