Title: Drought assessment using inquisitive method - a case of Rajkot, Gujarat, India

Authors: Nidhi R. Chandarana; Prasit G. Agnihotri; Saeid Eslamian

Addresses: Department of Water Resources Engineering, Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, Surat, Gujarat, India ' Department of Water Resources Engineering, Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, Surat, Gujarat, India ' Department of Water Engineering, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University and Technology, Isfahan, 8415683111, Iran; Center of Excellence in Risk Management and Natural Hazards, Isfahan University and Technology, Isfahan, 8415683111, Iran

Abstract: The study leads to the identification of drought situations and drought condition patterns observed. Rainfall data for the last 74 years was used as the study area. The statistical dispensation functions which include gamma function, exponential function, Weibull function, and lognormal function are primarily adapted and matched to data (precipitation) analysed for assorted time scales, based on which the suitable functions are chosen according to the situation. Time scale 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24 (for all classes of drought) was analysed. These threshold values are important for the step-wise implementation while making decisions by taking the needful consideration for its response. Study results are helpful to find and forecast a level of preventive steps needed to plan to get rid of scarcity of water. As a result, relentlessness and frequency of utmost drought are identified. Therefore, relentlessness and frequency of utmost drought can be identified by using the proposed method.

Keywords: SPI index; drought; rainfall record optimisation; India.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHST.2022.126450

International Journal of Hydrology Science and Technology, 2022 Vol.14 No.4, pp.451 - 466

Received: 07 Jul 2021
Accepted: 28 Sep 2021
Published online: 26 Oct 2022 *

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