Asik SyedStretching across northwestern India and southeastern Pakistan, the Thar Desert has undergone a striking transformation over the past twenty years. Recent research highlights an impressive 38% annual increase in greening, fueled primarily by stronger monsoon rains and expanding agriculture. This trend is especially remarkable, setting the Thar apart from other desert regions around the world.
Changing Climate and Rising Rainfall
Between 2001 and 2023, annual precipitation in the Thar rose by 64%, with an average gain of 4.4 millimetres per year since the early 2000s. The summer monsoon season has been the key catalyst, significantly boosting vegetation. Interestingly, the Thar is among only four major deserts worldwide where such a clear uptick in rainfall has been observed during this time frame.
Greening Trends in Thar: The Vital Role of Groundwater Resources
Beneath the surface, groundwater resources have played a crucial role. According to the study, groundwater was responsible for 55% of the annual vegetation growth, while precipitation contributed 45%. During the summer monsoon, the balance tipped in favour of rainfall, accounting for 66% of the greening. In drier months, however, groundwater took the lead, driving 67% of the vegetation expansion.
Agriculture’s Rapid Growth
The Thar has witnessed an agricultural boom. Between 1980 and 2015, cultivated land expanded by 74%, with irrigated farmland growing by 24%. Farmers increasingly depend on monsoon rains for Kharif season crops and rely on irrigation for Rabi season crops. Yet, this agricultural surge has come at a cost: mounting pressure on groundwater reserves due to over-extraction.
Urbanisation Accelerates
Urban growth in the Thar Desert has been nothing short of dramatic. From 1985 to 2020, urban areas swelled by anywhere between 50% and 800%. This urban expansion mirrors the region’s booming population, which has grown faster than in any other desert on Earth. Today, the Thar holds the record for the highest population density among global deserts, intensifying the strain on its natural resources.
How Researchers Uncovered the Trends
The study, led by scientists from IIT Gandhinagar and NASA, employed cutting-edge satellite imagery alongside ground-based data to track changes in vegetation and precipitation. Their comprehensive analysis of 14 major deserts worldwide confirmed that the Thar is uniquely experiencing simultaneous increases in population, rainfall, and vegetation — an extraordinary convergence rarely seen in arid regions.
Neha Baruah
