LATITUDE

A study by the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, has for the first time mapped the level of aridity (deficiency of moisture) in the Ganga river basin. It found that between 1975 and 2010, aridity increased in three pockets of the basin: western Great Indian Desert, northern Aravalli Range and western Chota Nagpur plateau. The factors behind the increase include vegetation loss, soil degradation and expansion in mining and industrial activities in the region, notes the study, published in Current Science.

The map shows aridity anomaly between 1975 and 2010 in the Ganga River Basin. Maximum increase in aridity is seen in western Great Indian Desert (A), northern Aravalli Range (B) and western Chota Nagpur Plateau (C-D)