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The reconnaissance drought index : A method for detecting regional arid climatic variability and potential drought risk

Mohammed, Ruqayah and Scholz, Miklas LU (2017) In Journal of Arid Environments 144. p.181-191
Abstract

The impact of climate variability on water demand and availability in drylands is substantial. Establishing methods to analyse precipitation (P) and evapotranspiration data sets may generate useful tools that assist in drought recognition and regional variations therein. The authors developed an index that simultaneous integrates both these variables in climate variability analysis. This study proposes the alpha and normalised forms of the reconnaissance drought index (RDI) as a single climatic index for the recognition of geographical areas with differing drought characteristics and potential weather variability. The prime application is that the RDI combines in a single index both P and potential evapotranspiration. A more consistent... (More)

The impact of climate variability on water demand and availability in drylands is substantial. Establishing methods to analyse precipitation (P) and evapotranspiration data sets may generate useful tools that assist in drought recognition and regional variations therein. The authors developed an index that simultaneous integrates both these variables in climate variability analysis. This study proposes the alpha and normalised forms of the reconnaissance drought index (RDI) as a single climatic index for the recognition of geographical areas with differing drought characteristics and potential weather variability. The prime application is that the RDI combines in a single index both P and potential evapotranspiration. A more consistent trend of climate variability can be identified by applying time series of different durations of RDI compared to using time series of P and potential evapotranspiration separately. The researchers explore this approach using meteorological data form 24 locations representing arid, semi-arid (Mediterranean (MD), tropical (TR), continental (CN)), and humid climatic conditions. The method is then tested through application to the semi-arid Lower Zab River basin (LZRB) in Iran and Iraq. Findings show that many regions such as the LZRB will face major droughts, indicating that there is an urgent requirement to advance water management strategies.

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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Climate change, Decision-making, Drought indicator, Hydrological processes, Trend detection, Water resources management
in
Journal of Arid Environments
volume
144
pages
181 - 191
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:85017507880
  • wos:000403999100017
ISSN
0140-1963
DOI
10.1016/j.jaridenv.2017.03.014
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
61c3937b-0dd1-4922-985b-1a2b8daae828
date added to LUP
2017-05-10 09:42:49
date last changed
2024-06-24 20:43:12
@article{61c3937b-0dd1-4922-985b-1a2b8daae828,
  abstract     = {{<p>The impact of climate variability on water demand and availability in drylands is substantial. Establishing methods to analyse precipitation (P) and evapotranspiration data sets may generate useful tools that assist in drought recognition and regional variations therein. The authors developed an index that simultaneous integrates both these variables in climate variability analysis. This study proposes the alpha and normalised forms of the reconnaissance drought index (RDI) as a single climatic index for the recognition of geographical areas with differing drought characteristics and potential weather variability. The prime application is that the RDI combines in a single index both P and potential evapotranspiration. A more consistent trend of climate variability can be identified by applying time series of different durations of RDI compared to using time series of P and potential evapotranspiration separately. The researchers explore this approach using meteorological data form 24 locations representing arid, semi-arid (Mediterranean (MD), tropical (TR), continental (CN)), and humid climatic conditions. The method is then tested through application to the semi-arid Lower Zab River basin (LZRB) in Iran and Iraq. Findings show that many regions such as the LZRB will face major droughts, indicating that there is an urgent requirement to advance water management strategies.</p>}},
  author       = {{Mohammed, Ruqayah and Scholz, Miklas}},
  issn         = {{0140-1963}},
  keywords     = {{Climate change; Decision-making; Drought indicator; Hydrological processes; Trend detection; Water resources management}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{181--191}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Journal of Arid Environments}},
  title        = {{The reconnaissance drought index : A method for detecting regional arid climatic variability and potential drought risk}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2017.03.014}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.jaridenv.2017.03.014}},
  volume       = {{144}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}