Irrigated cropland expansion exacerbates the urban moist heat stress in northern India

Abstract Agricultural irrigation has significantly reshaped the land surface energy and water balance. Previous studies have well investigated its cooling effect on air temperature ( T ). However, increasing humidity which can intensify humid heat was often overlooked, particularly over urban areas with high population density, , consequently greater exposure to moist stress. In this study, using state-of-the-art reanalysis data at a spatial resolution (∼9 km), we evaluated how changes in area equipped for (AEI) around city affect stress (UMHS) more than 1000 cities China India. addition wet-bulb WB ) globe WBG ), consider are closer perceived temperature, were assessed. We found that although AEI expansion lowers increases due increased humidity, thereby exacerbating UMHS. This ‘warming’ of is evident northern India where expanded recent decades, prominent pre-monsoon post-monsoon seasons, when precipitation low. not lower intensity differing climatic conditions. Overall, study highlights side-effect regional climate, providing crucial information better understanding future planning.