Climate Change Analysis using Satellite Data and Adaptation Strategies

Abstract

B Manikiam and Sethuraman Ganapathy Venkatasubramanian

Climate Change is a serious global environmental concern. The global increases in carbon dioxide concentration are due primarily to fossil fuel use and land use change, while those of methane and nitrous oxide are primarily due to agriculture. Global Warming is a specific example of the broader term ‘Climate Change’ and refers to the observed increase in the average temperature of the atmosphere and oceans in recent decades. Its effect particularly on developing countries is adverse as their capacity and resources to deal with the challenge is limited. Scientific studies have shown that the global atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide which are the most important Green House Gases, have increased markedly as a result of human activities since 1750 and now far exceed pre-industrial values.

Climate change is impacting the natural ecosystems and is expected to have substantial adverse effects in India, mainly on agriculture, water storage in the Himalayan glaciers which are the source of major rivers and ground water recharge, sea-level rise, and threats to a long coastline and habitations. Climate change will also cause increased frequency of extreme events such as floods, and droughts. These in turn will impact India’s food security problems and water security.

India over the past three decades have mastered the use of space technology. The operational satellites INSAT and IRS have heralded an era of Space observations with high resolution observations of land, ocean and atmosphere. The IRS satellites are providing observations of parameters such as land use/cover, forest, water bodies, crops etc. The satellite data is operationally used for environmental studies and long term database on vegetation, soil condition, rainfall, ground water etc. is being generated. Some of the unique studies are Biosphere Reserve Monitoring, Mapping of Glacial Lakes & Water Bodies in Himalayas, Biodiversity Mapping, Early Warning of Drought and Severe Weather Events. The paper presents details of the studies and salient results.

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