patterns have caused serious environmental damage to the earth. It is observed that
‘climate change’ is the most serious environmental issue that the modern world is
going to face in the twenty-first century. The earth’s climate has been steadily
changing, leading to the degradation of biodiversity, water and soil resources,
desertification, coastal erosion, decrease in agricultural productivity and much more.
Climate change mainly refers to a statistically significant variation in either the mean
state of the climate persisting for an extended period, usually decades, or in its variability (GOI 2008). A change in climate is attributed directly or indirectly to human
activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere in addition to a natural
climate variability observed over comparable time periods. The United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) thus makes a distinction
between climate change attributable to human activities altering the atmospheric
composition and climate variability attributable to natural causes (UNFCCC 2011).
India is a large country with 15 agro climatic zones, diverse seasons, crops, and
farming systems. For a majority of the people in India, agriculture is the main source
of livelihood. Agriculture is also most vulnerable to climate change, because it is
inherently sensitive to climate variability. Climate change can have a significant
impact on Indian agriculture in various direct and indirect ways besides affecting the
lives and livelihoods of millions of Indians (Ninan and Satyasiba 2012). Agriculture
and allied activities, such as livestock rearing and fisheries, constitute an important
component of India’s Gross Domestic Product, while providing employment
opportunities to two-thirds of the population. Climate change can also have an
economic impact on agriculture, including changes in farm profitability, prices,
supply, demand, trade, and regional comparative advantages (Khan et al. 2009).
Several studies have predicted a changing weather pattern in the coming decades
with a warmer climate, depletion in rainfall, and increase in drought situations
necessitating the adopting of mitigating options. Changes in seasons and season
length are an indicator, as well as an effect, of climate change. Seasonal changes can
profoundly affect the balance of life in ecosystems besides impacting the essential
human activities such as agriculture and irrigation (Anandhi 2010). Given this
backdrop, our study was an attempt to observe the possibilities of climate change at
the micro level in a semi-arid region, peri urban area of Bengaluru.
2 Objectives and Methodology
1. To develop a methodology for detection and assessment of climate change using
spatial data.
2. To understand the effect of climate change at the micro level in a semi-arid
region of Karnataka, India.
Criteria for selection of Jadigenahalli Gram Panchayat (JDGP):
• Near to metropolitan city and highly influenced by urbanization.
• High water scarcity seen in the villages (depletion in ground water levels).
478
S. Manasi et al.
‘climate change’ is the most serious environmental issue that the modern world is
going to face in the twenty-first century. The earth’s climate has been steadily
changing, leading to the degradation of biodiversity, water and soil resources,
desertification, coastal erosion, decrease in agricultural productivity and much more.
Climate change mainly refers to a statistically significant variation in either the mean
state of the climate persisting for an extended period, usually decades, or in its variability (GOI 2008). A change in climate is attributed directly or indirectly to human
activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere in addition to a natural
climate variability observed over comparable time periods. The United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) thus makes a distinction
between climate change attributable to human activities altering the atmospheric
composition and climate variability attributable to natural causes (UNFCCC 2011).
India is a large country with 15 agro climatic zones, diverse seasons, crops, and
farming systems. For a majority of the people in India, agriculture is the main source
of livelihood. Agriculture is also most vulnerable to climate change, because it is
inherently sensitive to climate variability. Climate change can have a significant
impact on Indian agriculture in various direct and indirect ways besides affecting the
lives and livelihoods of millions of Indians (Ninan and Satyasiba 2012). Agriculture
and allied activities, such as livestock rearing and fisheries, constitute an important
component of India’s Gross Domestic Product, while providing employment
opportunities to two-thirds of the population. Climate change can also have an
economic impact on agriculture, including changes in farm profitability, prices,
supply, demand, trade, and regional comparative advantages (Khan et al. 2009).
Several studies have predicted a changing weather pattern in the coming decades
with a warmer climate, depletion in rainfall, and increase in drought situations
necessitating the adopting of mitigating options. Changes in seasons and season
length are an indicator, as well as an effect, of climate change. Seasonal changes can
profoundly affect the balance of life in ecosystems besides impacting the essential
human activities such as agriculture and irrigation (Anandhi 2010). Given this
backdrop, our study was an attempt to observe the possibilities of climate change at
the micro level in a semi-arid region, peri urban area of Bengaluru.
2 Objectives and Methodology
1. To develop a methodology for detection and assessment of climate change using
spatial data.
2. To understand the effect of climate change at the micro level in a semi-arid
region of Karnataka, India.
Criteria for selection of Jadigenahalli Gram Panchayat (JDGP):
• Near to metropolitan city and highly influenced by urbanization.
• High water scarcity seen in the villages (depletion in ground water levels).
478
S. Manasi et al.