Assessing Hydro-climatological Variability and Land Use Characteristics of the Headwater Basins of the Indian Himalayan Region

Abstract

Understanding the anthropogenic impacts, hydro-climatological variability, and adaptive practices in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) is essential for promoting sustainable development. Given the ecological fragility and livelihood dependence of the region on hydro-climatic systems, this study contributes to SDG 6 (Clean Water), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 15 (Life on Land), SDG 1 (No Poverty), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Communities) by linking climate, land use, and community resilience. Despite growing research on climate-induced hydrological shifts, existing studies often lack basin-specific, multi-decadal evaluations integrating both climatic and land use land cover (LULC) dynamics with community-level insights. This study addresses this gap by evaluating hydro-climatic extremes and LULC changes on hydrological responses in five different river basins (i.e., Sindh, Parbati, Dhauliganga, Ranganadi, and Imphal) of the IHR using gridded datasets, field-gauging stations, and LISS-III/IV satellite data (2005, 2013, 2017). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) identifies temperature as the key driver in snow-fed basins, while precipitation governs rainfall-dependent processes in the Ranganadi basin. Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA) corroborates these findings, highlighting temperature and precipitation as the primary climatic drivers. Hydrological responses were assessed using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). The results show increased extreme hydro-climatic events (1978–2020), with flash floods affecting these basins. LULC analysis reveals forest and glacier cover declines, coupled with expansions in barren, agricultural, and urban areas, indicating environmental degradation. SWAT simulations achieved strong model fits (R2 > 0.8), showing snowmelt contributing 17–44% and rainfall 10–45% to hydrological responses, with significant evapotranspiration losses (15–39%) in the rainfed Ranganadi basin. A field study involving 1,500 household interviews validated simulated results, facilitating workshops and skill development programs to improve livelihoods under changing hydro-climatic and land-use scenarios. These findings inform adaptive practices through policymaking, community interventions, and capacity-building programs to mitigate hydro-climatic risks and promote sustainable development in the IHR. © King Abdulaziz University and Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025.