Hydro-meteorological Research Study in Madhya Pradesh, Central India: A Literature Review

Abstract

Water is a crucial and invaluable natural resource essential for humanity to sustain on Earth. Around 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by salt water, which has the largest water volume, and just about 2.5% of fresh water is available for human consumption. The factors that control the spatio-temporal variability of these water resources are envisaged to be of importance. Hydrometeorology is the branch of science that deals with water resource management and understanding water availability by simultaneously using the principles of hydrology and meteorology. Extreme hydro-meteorological events like floods, droughts, and other hydro-meteorological calamities are impacting the region’s water resources. For a big state such as Madhya Pradesh, where the availability of hydro-meteorological data is critical in dealing with the management of water resources not only for the state but for the other neighbouring states, those aquifers and rivers are fed by the cross-boundary rivers of the state. Several research activities that have been carried out in Madhya Pradesh in hydrometeorology and allied disciplines by various researchers are reviewed and presented in this paper. This research paper also discussed the analysis of hydrometeorology services and highlighted the significance of hydrometeorology research at regional level. Apart from this, the major challenges faced in hydro-meteorological research in Madhya Pradesh are also highlighted in the paper.