Intensity and spatiotemporal variations of drought in Tumakuru district, India using drought indices

Depletion of water resources and soil moisture leading to drought is a global concern and the effective assessment and monitoring using a drought model has become essential. A detailed account of frequency, run length and temporal trend of the drought events are presented in the study from 1981 to 2019 at the 1-, 3-, 6-, 9-, 12- and 24-month timescale using the Standardized Precipitation Index and Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index. SPI recorded more drought months in the extreme category with 14 months at Gubbi station for example, while SPEI showed only 5 months. SPEI showed longer drought length in moderate and severe categories for agricultural and hydrological drought. At a 1-month timescale, both the indices reported extreme drought events where Tiptur station in May 2016 (-4.75) and Chikkanayakanahalli station in March 1992 (-2.76) were the worst-case scenarios. The study aims at providing practical results to facilitate decision-makers for drought risk management.