Impact of Urbanization on Climate Change in Delhi NCR Due to Land Use Changes

摘要

The present study assesses the impact of land use change on climate by estimating the reduction in the soil carbon sequestration capacity and emission of carbon dioxide (CO_2), major components of greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere by converting protected forest to unprotected forest of Delhi Ridge. Soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil inorganic carbon (SIC) of soil samples of upper layer (0-30 cm) of both protected and unprotected forest of Delhi Ridge were analysed in three seasons (summer, winter, and monsoon) of a year (2015). It was found that SOC and SIC in the protected forest were 25.42 and 3 percent respectively, higher than the unprotected forest, and there would be potential of release of 91.24 tons excess CO_2 into the atmosphere if we convert one hectare of protected forest to unprotected forest.