MOSAIC - Modeling South Asian climate in relation to irrigation and land use changes using a modified scheme for soil hydrology and an interactive vegetation scheme in a regional climate model

The MOSAIC project aims to investigate the impact of expanded irrigation in South Asia on the region's hydrological cycle, near-surface temperatures, and atmospheric circulation, particularly focusing on the South Asian monsoon. Building on previous research in Central Asia, the project plans to implement and improve the regional climate model (RCM) REMO, with a focus on incorporating a more sophisticated irrigation scheme adapted to new soil and vegetation models. The project will conduct high-resolution simulations (12 km) to assess the effects of these improvements on monsoon dynamics, including extreme weather events. Additionally, convection-permitting simulations at a 3 km resolution will explore the local impacts of irrigation and land use changes. Statistical analyses will evaluate the model's performance and potential climate change signals, with bias corrections applied to enhance the accuracy of the results. Overall, MOSAIC aims to advance regional climate modeling and improve the understanding of the South Asian monsoon under changing climate conditions.