Authors: Mr. K. Boopathiraj, Mr. P. Balakrishnan
Abstract: Climate change in the Indian subcontinent operates as an escalating, multi-systemic cascade, where baseline environmental shifts directly amplify extreme atmospheric and oceanic hazards. This study analyzes empirical climate data across India over a 25-year period (2001–2025), structured into five-year intervals across seven key indicators: annual mean temperature, rainfall deviations, heatwaves, droughts, flood impacts, tropical cyclones, and sea-level rise. Isolating these parameters into dedicated analytical frameworks reveals a clear causal progression. Sustained atmospheric warming and pronounced rainfall volatility serve as primary drivers, accelerating evapotranspiration and disrupting regional monsoon stability. These baseline shifts trigger high-intensity atmospheric extremes, manifested in prolonged pre-monsoon heatwaves and rapid-onset flash droughts. Concurrently, intense precipitation events compound into severe riverine and urban flooding, affecting millions of people and submerging extensive agricultural areas. On the oceanic front, elevated sea surface temperatures fuel rapid cyclone intensification—particularly in the Arabian Sea-while accelerating sea-level rise exacerbates coastal erosion and landfalling storm surges. By establishing the interconnected mechanics of these cascading climate impacts, this research provides a scientific foundation for multi-hazard disaster risk reduction and integrated climate adaptation policy in South Asia.
DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22303569
