Hydrometeorological Drought Characterisation Study of a Tropical River Basin Under Climate Change Scenario

Abstract

Drought is a creeping natural disaster, but the severity of this catastrophe could be newlinecontrolled by proficiently comprehending the phenomenon. Several studies on newlineregional/basin scale studies evaluating the impacts of climate change on drought can be newlinefound in the literature. However, it is essential to recognise that every regional drought newlinestudy is unique in several aspects, such as its own physical, social, and economic newlinecharacteristics that can influence the occurrence, severity, and impacts of drought. newlineTherefore, while the findings of previous studies can be informative, it is important to newlinetailor the research and adaptation strategies to the specific context of the river basin newlineunder consideration. Previous literature states that a drought-like situation prevails in newlinethe Bharathapuzha river basin, a tropical river basin of India. Agriculture is a major newlineoccupation in the Bharathapuzha River Basin, and drought can have significant impacts newlineon crop yields and livelihoods. Nevertheless, limited drought analysis has been carried newlineout in this data-sparse river basin. Hence this research focuses on the newlinehydrometeorological drought characterisation of the Bharathapuzha river basin. newlineThe temperature is an indispensable parameter of climate that triggers newlineevapotranspiration and is vital in aggravating drought severity. The first part of the study newlineanalyses the alleged existence and persistence of meteorological drought in the tropical newlineriver basin that was once perennial. The Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration newlineIndex (SPEI) and the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) were the drought indices newlineused for that purpose. Past observed data and future climate projections of precipitation newlineand temperature were used for the analysis. The results indicate the presence of drought newlinein the past and will endure in the future according to the Representative Concentration newlinePathway (RCP) scenarios RCP 4.5 and 8.5.