Land use alterations and its possible impact on premonsoon climatic variables

Changes in land surface characteristics have become a matter of great concern in the recent years. It is particularly important when the mesoscale phenomena control the climatic variables of a region. Gangetic West Bengal with its neighbourhood is such a region where during premonsoon season, mesoscale phenomena, i.e., sea breeze circulation and severe convective development, control the local climate of the season. It is also reported that a drastic changes in land use pattern has taken place in recent period over the region, which might affect the local climate, resulting in severe water crisis over the semi-arid part of the region. A detailed study has been undertaken to investigate the changes in land use pattern through satellite data over the area and its possible impact on the local climate through numerical modeling. Satellite (IRS-IC and Landsat 4 and 5) data shows a sharp change in dynamic vegetation during this period, which is due to, increased agricultural practices in the recent years. Mesoscale model indicates that agricultural practices hinder the development of sea breezes over the coastal and inland places, causing less incursion of moisture towards inland. This may be associated with less number of convective developments over the coastal and neighbouring places.