Effects of land use/land cover alterations on regional meteorology over Northwest India

Irrigation activities, as part of the agricultural green revolution, in Northwest India are aimed at transforming barrenland to agriculturally productive area. The main objective this study is determine effects these land use cover (LULC) transformations on regional meteorology over region. Satellite derived LULC classes 2003 and 2012 reveal conversion significantly large areas open shrubland cropland India. Model simulations show that changes (LULCC) alone decreases sensible heat flux (SHF) region by ?5.85 ± 0.24Wm?2 enhances latent (LHF) 11.03 0.41Wm?2, with prominent exact regions LULCC. These alterations lead decrease surface level air temperature ?0.14 0.005 K increase relative humidity 1.48 0.03%. While reanalysis data (decrease) LHF a rate 8.5Wm?2dec?1 (?5.67Wm?2dec?1), satellite measurements increasing trend near 2.13%dec?1 an daily mean (0.3Kdec?1). However, day time diurnal range rates ?0.007Kdec?1 ? 0.6Kdec?1 respectively. To delineate contribution LULCC from measured temperatures, Observation Minus Reanalysis (OMR) method has been employed. OMR analysis shows decreasing (?0.48Kdec?1) RH (6.85% dec?1), corroborating model simulated changes. vegetated area India, which leads evapo-transpiration. This affects enhancing SHF reducing temperature. results demonstrate land-based mitigation strategies yield measurable climatic benefits period one or two decades, contrast much longer generally required for greenhouse gases cycle through climate system.