Correlating Precipitation Dynamics with Land-use Land-cover change over Mahanadi River Basin in India

The pattern of precipitation has shifted over time, shaped by alterations in land use and land cover (LULC), which impacted local meteorological conditions. This study analyzes LULC changes in the Mahanadi River basin, utilizing satellite observations and meteorological reanalysis datasets to assess their impact on regional weather parameters and surface fluxes. The impact of LULC changes on regional meteorology was investigated by applying correlation analysis with multiple linear regression to weather variables. The objective was to ascertain the enduring relationship between precipitation and atmospheric heat, as well as to quantify these dynamics in Aw and Cwa climate zones throughout both monsoon and non-monsoon seasons. Landsat TM and ETM+ satellite imagery was used to produce LULC data for the years 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020. Over the previous 20 years, plantation lands fell 69%, according to LULC change statistics, whereas built-up and agricultural areas grew by 11% and 21% respectively. Correlation analysis indicates that the R² value between precipitation and relative humidity varies from 0.70 to 0.78. The Bowen ratio and solar radiation have an inverse connection with precipitation, with R² values ranging from 0.5 to 0.6 and 0.7 to 0.8, respectively, indicating that lessened latent heat and elevated solar radiation are associated with decreased precipitation. According to the results, more impermeable surfaces will lower the amount of water in the atmosphere. This will cause solar energy and the Bowen ratio to rise, while humidity in the air will decrease. The research emphasizes significant alterations in climatic conditions and surface fluxes, leading to atmospheric heat and reduced moisture levels. These findings highlight the significance of proficient LULC management in alleviating these effects.