Desertification of Bengal Dryland Areas Possible under Projected Climate Conditions

Authors

  • Kartic Bera Research Fellow
  • Michelle E. Newcomer Research Scientist
  • Pabitra Banik Professor

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54302/mausam.v75i4.6249

Keywords:

Climate Change, Drylands, Desertification, Prediction, Decadal, Trend analysis

Abstract

Drylands are some of the most sensitive areas to climate change and human activities around the globe. Assessment of future climate trend scenarios provides valuable practical information for dryland management decision-making. According to Huang et al. (2017), more than 50% of global drylands will expand by this century, with a maximum (78%) of newly expanded dryland occurring in developing countries. To understand the potential for expansion of drylands and desertification, we examine critical predictor variables (temperature and precipitation) of Bengal dryland expansion to guide early actions to mitigate and prevent desertification. Using trend analysis of bias-corrected CMIP6 projected climate change data for temperature and precipitation (2022-2041), results indicate future dryland expansion is possible from increases in temperature and declines in monsoonal precipitation. Over the next two decades (2022-2041), Bengal dryland areas will be 0.1-0.5°C warmer, and rainfall will decrease by 2.57-13.43cm total during the monsoon period. Given these variables are critical predictors of dryland expansion because of their role in driving evapotranspiration and soil moisture deficits; we anticipate an increase in the population affected by water scarcity, land degradation, and desertification. Our work provides information critical for effective dryland management, biodiversity conservation, and land-use planning under future climate conditions.

Author Biographies

Michelle E. Newcomer, Research Scientist

Research Scientist, Climate & Ecosystem Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Earth & Environmental Sciences Area, Berkeley, California, United States of America

Pabitra Banik, Professor

Professor. Agricultural and Ecological Research Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, 203, Barrackpore Trunk Road, Kolkata-700108, West Bengal, India,

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Published

01-10-2024

How to Cite

[1]
K. Bera, M. E. Newcomer, and P. . Banik, “Desertification of Bengal Dryland Areas Possible under Projected Climate Conditions”, MAUSAM, vol. 75, no. 4, pp. 1009–1022, Oct. 2024.

Issue

Section

Research Papers