Spatiotemporal evaluation of drought characteristics in south Bihar region using Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI)

摘要

Abstract The spatial and temporal analysis of drought and its characteristics have been evaluated in the south Bihar region. For the above-said purpose, the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) has been computed for four different timescales of 1, 3, 6, and 12 months to reflect the meteorological, agricultural, hydrological, and groundwater drought conditions, respectively. The drought events have been analyzed for three different grades of severity as per the drought persistence in the region. The probability of occurrence of agriculture drought is found to be high, with an average frequency of 1.91, followed by the hydrological drought (once in 2.51 years), groundwater drought (once in 4.35 years), and meteorological drought (once in 8.12 years) in the region. The problem is more pronounced in the southern region of the study area that necessitates the introduction of management practices, including micro-irrigation systems, to ensure the optimum and efficient utilization of water resources. The combination of SPI and GIS played a significant role in evaluating the drought conditions. Therefore, the findings of this study will be of immense help to the policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders for preparing drought proof strategies in the study area.