Introduction

Effective climate change adaptation must be built on a clear understanding of the physical processes that drive climate variability and long-term change. The physical sciences help explain how, why, and where the climate is changing, and how these changes manifest as weather and climate extremes such as heatwaves, floods, droughts, cyclones, and intense rainfall.

In India, where livelihoods, food security, water availability, infrastructure, and disaster risk are closely linked to climate conditions, understanding the physical science of changing extremes is especially critical.