In a significant step towards addressing climate change, researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) have developed IMPART, an innovative web-based application designed to monitor dynamic changes in lake water surface temperatures. This open-source tool marks a milestone in environmental technology by delivering unprecedented accuracy in freshwater ecosystem assessments.
IMPART, which stands for Integration of dynamic water extents towards improved lake water surface temperature, addresses critical gaps in traditional monitoring methods that often assume static lake boundaries. By incorporating dynamic changes influenced by urbanisation, seasonal variations, and climatic shifts, the app provides a comprehensive understanding of water surface temperatures. The development team, led by Kumar Nitish and Prof. J. Indu from the Department of Civil Engineering and the Interdisciplinary Centre for Climate Studies, emphasised the importance of dynamic monitoring in managing water resources effectively. “Accounting for fluctuating lake extents enhances the precision of temperature estimations and offers actionable insights for policymakers,” remarked Prof. Indu.
The app utilises advanced satellite data from MODIS and LANDSAT, along with Google Earth Engine’s lake extent imagery, to compute both static and dynamic temperature estimates. In a global study of 342 lakes—including 115 in India—IMPART revealed notable discrepancies between static and dynamic temperature measurements in more than 50% of cases. The most affected regions included tropical and arid zones, where climate variability significantly impacts water bodies. Rising lake temperatures, driven by climate change and human activities, pose severe threats to biodiversity, oxygen levels, and water quality. The development of IMPART aligns with urgent global efforts to address these challenges. Beyond temperature tracking, the tool offers potential applications in ecological health assessments, water resource management, and early-warning systems for lakes under environmental stress.
With its user-friendly interface, IMPART is accessible to researchers, environmental organisations, and policymakers. “This tool not only enables accurate monitoring but also helps shape climate policies to mitigate long-term impacts,” said Nitish. As the effects of global warming intensify, IIT Bombay’s IMPART app represents a crucial innovation in safeguarding freshwater ecosystems. By bridging the gap between traditional and dynamic monitoring, it empowers decision-makers to adopt data-driven strategies for climate resilience and ecological preservation.
