Interactions between Land Use practices and Climate change on Water quality in India: A comprehensive review

¹ Department of Civil Engineering, Chandigarh University carolineruvarashe932@gmail.com, Mohali, 140413, Punjab, India
² Department of Civil Engineering, Chandigarh University ambika.e13703@cumail.in, Mohali, 140413, Punjab, India

Abstract

The quality of water serves as a fundamental gauge of environmental health influenced by the interplay between land use practices and climate change. Globally, water quality is deteriorating largely due to the inevitable growth of population. This relationship is complex, land use practices significantly shape climate dynamics, while climate change modifies land use patterns in response to climatic variability. In developing countries like India, currently the most populous nation, around 60% of the population relies on agricultural productivity which is closely tied to water quality. Due to temperature variations brought on by climate change, hydrological patterns and precipitation dynamics are altered resulting in extreme weather events like floods and droughts that have a negative impact on water quality. Moreover, the concentration of pollutants in aquatic bodies is influenced by land use patterns. To analyze these complex interactions, climatic projections, hydrological models, watershed models, and various techniques such as GIS and remote sensing are utilized. This paper aims to review how land use practices intersect with the effects of climate change specifically in relation to water quality in India providing insights on the negative impacts of this interaction in an era of environmental awareness.