Climate change impacts on socio-hydrological spaces of the Brahmaputra floodplain in Assam, Northeast India: A review

Abstract

Intensification of the water cycle mediated by global warming increases the risk of hydrological disasters by modifying precipitation patterns across the globe which leads to adverse socio-economic impacts, especially in developing countries. Socio-hydrological spaces in the vicinity of major river systems are prone to the devastating effects of hydrological disasters yet attract human settlements due to the availability of fertile lands that support agriculture. The Brahmaputra floodplain (BFP) of Assam in Northeast India (NEI) is one such region that supports a high population in spite of being ravaged by annual floods and occasional droughts. The current study attempts to critically review the climate change impacts on socio-hydrological spaces of the BFP exploring climate change-hazard-lives and livelihood linkages of floodplain dwellers. This work utilizes peer reviewed articles along with reports of government and international/national organizations to critically appraise the following-(i) existing climate and fluvial hazard scenario in the BFP, (ii) impacts of climate change on the fluvial hazard and agriculture in the BFP, and (iii) the adaptation and mitigation measures that exist in the BFP. Shifts in the long-term trends of temperature and rainfall have occurred over this region leading to speculations on future scenarios of hydrological hazards and their impacts. Studies project an alteration in the hydrology and flow regime of the Brahmaputra River under climate warming scenarios which will influence the hazard characteristics with implications for agriculture and food security. Integrating disaster risk reduction with agricultural management can provide better climate resilience to the farming communities in the BFP.

Microbial Prevalence in Soil Water in the River Deltas of the World

“…As the delta is maximally composed of alluvial soil of the flooded plain made up of river deposition and siltation, the organic constituents along with different microbes including bacteria, fungi, parasites, helminthes, virus play an important role for the cultivation of different vegetations in the soil [89]. The maximal humid situation of upstream in comparison to the downstream provides variations in the fungi pollens that also changes the physio-chemical soil texture for a long time period [90][91][92][93][94][95][96][97][98][99][100][101][102][103][104][105][106]. Sundarban river delta is also an example of this largest deltoid soil microbial activity [104,[107][108][109][110][111][112][113][114][115][116][117][118][119][120][121].…”

Hydroclimatic Impact Assessment Using the SWAT Model in India—State of the Art Review

“…Moreover, its diverse range of geographical and climatic conditions, spanning from the north of the country to the south, offers an ideal setting for assessing the impacts of climate change on water resources. Notably, the River Basin of India stands out as one of the most vulnerable areas to climate change, highlighting the importance of conducting climate change studies using the SWAT model to quantitatively assess its potential impacts on water resources [33]. However, studies reviewing SWAT applications in the Indian River region are lacking.…”

Evaluating Flood Susceptibility in the Brahmaputra River Basin: An Insight into Asia's Eastern Himalayan Floodplains Using Machine Learning and Multi-Criteria Decision-Making

“…These actions are intended to safeguard the inhabitants of the floodplain from erosion and flooding. However, due to the frequent flooding in this area, these embankments are frequently breached during the monsoon season (Meraj et al 2022b;Hazarika et al 2018;Borah et al 2022).…”