In a significant boost to urban climate research, Prof. Atiqur Rahman, Head of the Department of Geography at Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), has secured a major research grant of Rs 47.46 lakhs from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). The project, titled "Study on the Reduction of Heat due to the Presence of Water Bodies and Tree Cover," aims to quantify how natural elements like lakes, ponds, and urban forests can combat rising temperatures in Indian cities plagued by the urban heat island (UHI) effect.
This initiative comes at a critical time as India's urban areas grapple with intensified heat stress. Built-up surfaces absorb and radiate heat, while the loss of green cover and water resources exacerbates the problem, making cities 2-12°C hotter than rural surroundings. Prof. Rahman's study will focus on three diverse cities—Kolkata (warm humid), Bengaluru (moderate temperate), and Udaipur (hot semi-arid)—to provide evidence-based insights for climate-resilient urban planning.
Prof. Atiqur Rahman's Expertise in Urban Environmental Studies
Prof. Atiqur Rahman, a distinguished geographer with over two decades of experience, leads this project as Principal Investigator. Holding an M.Sc., M.Phil., and Ph.D., he specializes in urban environmental management, climate change impacts, UHI dynamics, water resource mapping, remote sensing, and geographic information systems (GIS). His Google Scholar profile boasts over 9,000 citations, reflecting his influence in the field.
Past projects include collaborations with NASA on urban ecology (2004-2007 and 2012-2015), Indo-German DST-DAAD initiatives, and ICMR-CHIR partnerships. He has authored 18 books, nearly 200 peer-reviewed papers, and guided 13 Ph.D. scholars. Key publications like "Modeling urban heat islands in heterogeneous land surface" and "Land use/Land cover change and its impact on surface urban heat island" underscore his focus on thermal environments.
Under his leadership, JMI's Geography Department has emerged as a hub for geospatial research, earning recognition from ISRO for remote sensing excellence. This grant further cements JMI's role in addressing national environmental challenges. For aspiring researchers, opportunities in higher-ed research jobs at institutions like JMI are expanding amid India's push for Viksit Bharat@2047.
The Urban Heat Island Challenge in India
Urban Heat Islands (UHI) occur when cities experience higher temperatures than rural areas due to concrete jungles, reduced evapotranspiration, and anthropogenic heat. In India, satellite data reveals cities warming at 0.53°C per decade—double the national average—between 2003-2020. Delhi records UHI intensities up to 12°C on calm nights, while Kolkata and Bengaluru see 4-7°C spikes.
Low-income neighborhoods suffer most, with heat-related illnesses surging 20-30% during peaks. A 2026 study projects Indian cities could warm 45% faster than models predict, even at 2°C global rise, due to overlooked local factors like aerosol loading and land cover loss. This underscores the urgency of nature-based solutions (NBS) like green-blue infrastructure.
Water Bodies as Natural Coolants
Water bodies—lakes, rivers, wetlands—cool via evaporation, releasing latent heat and moderating air temperatures by 2-5°C within 100-500m radius. In Bengaluru, once boasting 1,600 lakes, over 80% loss has spiked UHI by 2°C since 1970s. Restored lakes like Hebbal reduced local temps by 3.4°C.
- Evaporative cooling: Up to 4°C drop per unit water area.
- Advection: Breeze carries cool air inland.
- Albedo effect: Reflects solar radiation.
In Kolkata's wetlands, East Kolkata Wetlands (EWW) mitigate UHI for 2.5 million residents, filtering sewage while cooling 1-3°C. Udaipur's lakes, like Pichola, buffer arid heat. Prof. Rahman's project will use GIS to map these effects across seasons.ORF Blue-Green Infrastructure Report
Tree Cover's Shading and Cooling Power
Trees provide shade, transpiration cooling (up to 10L water/day/tree), and lower wind speeds for humidity buildup. Studies show 30% canopy cover can reduce peak temps by 5°C. In Delhi, greening efforts cooled hotspots by 2.5°C.
Species matter: Native neem or banyan outperform exotics in Indian climates. Bengaluru's tree loss (66% since 2000) correlates with 2°C UHI rise; Kolkata's mangroves shield coastal heat. The project will assess leaf area index (LAI) correlations with land surface temperature (LST).
Craft a strong academic CV for roles in urban forestry research.
Photo by Ranbir Singh on Unsplash
Case Studies: Kolkata, Bengaluru, Udaipur
Kolkata (Warm Humid): High humidity amplifies perceived heat; Hooghly River and EWW cool by 2-4°C, but encroachment threatens. Study will model restoration impacts.
Bengaluru (Moderate): 'Garden City' lost 75% lakes, 50% trees; UHI now 4-6°C. Lake revival pilots show 3°C mitigation.
Udaipur (Hot Arid): Lakes like Fateh Sagar provide 5°C oasis effect amid 45°C summers. Aravalli forests enhance this.
Research Methodology: Remote Sensing and GIS
Leveraging satellites like Landsat, MODIS for LST mapping, NDVI for vegetation, NDWI for water indices. Machine learning classifiers (e.g., random forest) will model UHI drivers. Field validation via micrometeorology stations. Step-by-step: data acquisition, preprocessing, correlation analysis, scenario modeling for policy.
Policy Implications and National Alignment
Findings will inform MoEFCC's National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), AMRUT 2.0 urban greening, and SDG 11. Aligns with Viksit Bharat's resilient cities vision. Potential for Nagar Van Yojana expansion (544 projects sanctioned).Explore higher ed opportunities in India.
JMI's Growing Research Footprint
JMI Geography has 176+ publications (2014-19), ISRO collaborations. Recent awards include US recognition for Indian Knowledge Systems research. This grant elevates its environmental profile.JMI Geography Department
Future Outlook: Scalable Solutions and Career Paths
Expected outcomes: Heat mitigation maps, policy briefs. Scalable to Smart Cities Mission. For students, Ph.D.s in geospatial sciences booming—check postdoc jobs. With climate jobs surging 8% yearly, JMI alumni lead urban planning.
This MoEFCC grant to Prof. Rahman exemplifies how university research drives India's sustainability. Explore Rate My Professor, higher ed jobs, career advice, and university jobs to join this vital field.
