Foreword by J. Srinivasan
In the twenty-first century, the impact of human-induced climate change will pose a great
challenge to humanity. The increase in global mean temperature can be directly linked to the
increase in greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane. The causes of local climate
change is, however, much more complex. The local climate change is influenced not only by
the increase in the greenhouse gases but also by the increase in air pollution and the local
changes in land-use pattern. In order to understand local climate change, we need more
observations and a detailed analysis of the factors that lead to local changes in climate. India is
a vast country with many climate zones, and hence, local climate change and their causes can
be quite complex. India is concerned about the impact of climate change on the vulnerable
population in both urban and rural areas.
The present book is the first attempt to document climate changes in different parts of India.
Chapter 1 discusses the global climate change, regional climate change, Indian monsoon
variability, and the development of the first earth system model in India. Chapter 2 focuses on
the changes in mean temperature and the extremes. The evolution of these parameters in the
twenty-first century is explored in detail. The variability of precipitation is of great concern in
India in view of its impact of agriculture. Chapter 3 examines the past changes in precipitation,
the impact of climate change on precipitation, and the projections of changes in precipitation
in future. Chapter 4 presents the variations in greenhouse emissions and concentrations in the
twentieth century and their projected change in the twenty-first century. The increase in air
pollution in India has been a cause for major concern. Chapter 5 provides a detailed account
of the increase in aerosols in India and their radiative impact. The frequency of droughts and
floods is discussed in Chap. 6. The changes in synoptic scale events and extreme storms are
covered in Chaps. 7 and 8. India has a long coastline, and hence, the impact of sea-level rise is
a matter of concern to policy makers. The impact of ocean warming and glacier melting on
regional sea-level rise is highlighted in Chap. 9. Chapter 10 deals with the impact of warming
of the Indian Ocean, while Chap. 11 looks at climate change in the Himalayas. Chapter 12
discusses the benefits of mitigating climate change through the reduction in emission of
greenhouse gases and aerosols.
This book will be a valuable source material since it contains important data and hence will
become a reference material in future.
J. Srinivasan
Divecha Centre for Climate Change
Indian Institute of Science
Bengaluru, India
vii
In the twenty-first century, the impact of human-induced climate change will pose a great
challenge to humanity. The increase in global mean temperature can be directly linked to the
increase in greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane. The causes of local climate
change is, however, much more complex. The local climate change is influenced not only by
the increase in the greenhouse gases but also by the increase in air pollution and the local
changes in land-use pattern. In order to understand local climate change, we need more
observations and a detailed analysis of the factors that lead to local changes in climate. India is
a vast country with many climate zones, and hence, local climate change and their causes can
be quite complex. India is concerned about the impact of climate change on the vulnerable
population in both urban and rural areas.
The present book is the first attempt to document climate changes in different parts of India.
Chapter 1 discusses the global climate change, regional climate change, Indian monsoon
variability, and the development of the first earth system model in India. Chapter 2 focuses on
the changes in mean temperature and the extremes. The evolution of these parameters in the
twenty-first century is explored in detail. The variability of precipitation is of great concern in
India in view of its impact of agriculture. Chapter 3 examines the past changes in precipitation,
the impact of climate change on precipitation, and the projections of changes in precipitation
in future. Chapter 4 presents the variations in greenhouse emissions and concentrations in the
twentieth century and their projected change in the twenty-first century. The increase in air
pollution in India has been a cause for major concern. Chapter 5 provides a detailed account
of the increase in aerosols in India and their radiative impact. The frequency of droughts and
floods is discussed in Chap. 6. The changes in synoptic scale events and extreme storms are
covered in Chaps. 7 and 8. India has a long coastline, and hence, the impact of sea-level rise is
a matter of concern to policy makers. The impact of ocean warming and glacier melting on
regional sea-level rise is highlighted in Chap. 9. Chapter 10 deals with the impact of warming
of the Indian Ocean, while Chap. 11 looks at climate change in the Himalayas. Chapter 12
discusses the benefits of mitigating climate change through the reduction in emission of
greenhouse gases and aerosols.
This book will be a valuable source material since it contains important data and hence will
become a reference material in future.
J. Srinivasan
Divecha Centre for Climate Change
Indian Institute of Science
Bengaluru, India
vii