Greening Trend: The Thar Desert has experienced a 38% annual increase in greening over the past two decades.
Driving Factors: Increased monsoon rainfall and agricultural expansion are the primary drivers behind this greening trend.
Groundwater Impact: Groundwater contributes significantly to vegetation growth, accounting for 55% of the annual impact, compared to precipitation’s 45%.
Unique Desert: The Thar Desert is unique, showing a concurrent rise in population, rainfall, and vegetation in recent decades.
Location and Size: The Thar Desert, also known as the Great Indian Desert, is a large arid region in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent. It covers approximately 200,000 sq. km.
Boundaries: Bordered by the Sutlej River (northwest), Aravalli Mountain Ranges (east), Rann of Kutch (south), and Indus Valley (west).
Climate: The desert has extreme temperatures (hot summers, cold winters) with low rainfall (100-500 mm annually).
Mineral Rich: The Thar Desert is rich in minerals like coal, gypsum, limestone, salt, and bauxite.
