Change in rainfall erosivity in the past and future due to climate change in the central part of India

Abstract

Temporal change in rainfall erosivity varies due to the rainfall characteristic (amount, intensity, frequency, duration), which affects the conservation of soil and water. This study illustrates the variation of rainfall erosivity due to changing rainfall in the past and the future. The projected rainfall is generated by SDSM (Statistical DownScaling Model) after calibration and validation using two GCMs (general circulation model) data of HadCM3 (A2 and B2 scenario) and CGCM3 (A1B and A2 scenario). The selected study area is mainly a cultivable area with an agricultural based economy. This economy depends on rainfall and is located in a part of the Narmada river basin in central India. Nine rainfall locations are selected that are distributed throughout the study area and surrounding. The results indicate gradually increasing projected rainfall while the past rainfall has shown a declined pattern by Mann–Kendall test with statistical 95% confidence level. Rainfall erosivity has increased due to the projected increase in the future rainfall (2080 s) in comparison to the past. Rainfall erosivity varies from −32.91% to 24.12% in the 2020s, −18.82 to 75.48% in 2050 s and 20.95–202.40% in 2080s. The outputs of this paper can be helpful for the decision makers to manage the soil water conservation in this study area. © 2016 International Research and Training Center on Erosion and Sedimentation and China Water and Power Press