Application of Earth Observation Data and Standardized Precipitation Index Based Approach for Meteorological Drought Monitoring, Assessment and Prediction Over Kutch, Gujarat, India

Authors : Sumanta DAS, Malini Roy CHOUDHURY, Sujay GANDHİ, Viral JOSHİ

Pages : 24-37

Doi:10.30897/ijegeo.306468

View : 15 | Download : 5

Publication Date : 2016-08-02

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Drought is a natural phenomenon which differs from other natural hazards by its slow accumulating process and its indefinite commencement and termination. The present study addresses water deficiency and drought occurrence over Kutch district, Gujarat, because nearly 45% of the whole Kutch district is severely suffering by deficiency of water. Earth observation data insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(LANDSAT ETM+); and Standardized Precipitation Index were used to analyze drought severity. Daily rainfall data over the study area were obtained from Indian Meteorological Department insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(IMD); for the period of study insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(1990-2014); and geo-referenced for further analyses. Using Remote Sensing and GIS techniques, rainfall variability map over the period of study has been prepared to show rainfall distribution and land use and land cover map is prepared to show the area under different land use classes and impacts of drought over land uses. Standardized Precipitation Index insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(SPI); was generated for each block wise and scenario of drought development has been analyzed using decadal data set for the study period insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(1990-2014);. The present study suggests method and techniques for continuous drought monitoring by linking temporal earth observation and rainfall data. The methodology will be very useful for the development of a regional drought monitoring system.
Keywords : Drought, SPI, drought severity, Rainfall variability