Global analysis of the correlation and propagation among meteorological, agricultural, surface water, and groundwater droughts

Abstract

Groundwater drought monitoring relies on ground observation data, which cannot be used to reflect large-scale droughts in groundwater resources. The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Satellite (GRACE) improved the situation and provided a new solution for groundwater drought research. However, the propagation relationship among global different drought types has not been fully explored. We employed CRU precipitation data, MERR2 reanalysis soil moisture data, GLDAS and GRACE data to calculate SPI (Standardized precipitation index), SSI (Standardized soil moisture index), SRI (Standardized runoff index), and GDI (Groundwater drought index), characterizing meteorological, agricultural, surface water and groundwater droughts, respectively. The Pearson correlation coefficient was adopted to study the propagation time of these four types of droughts. The results showed that the average propagation times for the different drought types are meteorological drought to surface water drought (3.5 months), meteorological drought to agricultural drought (5.7 months), agricultural drought to groundwater drought (12.97 months), surface water drought to groundwater drought (13.78 months), and meteorological drought to groundwater drought (14.47 months) from longest to shortest. (2) Climate conditions had a significant impact on the propagation time of different drought types. Low temperatures in cold climates resulted in the longest drought propagation time, while dry summer climates in temperate climates reduced drought propagation time. There were weaker propagation relationships in arid climates. In tropical climates, precipitation may not be the main driving factor for drought propagation. (3) Different land cover types show significant differences in the propagation of groundwater droughts, with forests having a longer propagation time from meteorological drought to agricultural drought or surface water drought than grassland and cropland, and forests having the shortest propagation time when meteorological drought, agricultural drought, and surface water drought is propagated to groundwater drought. Woody plants have deeper root systems than herbaceous plants and can draw up deeper groundwater. Forests have greater water storage capacity and weaker groundwater recharge than grasslands and croplands, resulting in forests being more resistant to agricultural and surface water droughts and less resistant to groundwater droughts during meteorological droughts. This study can help to clarify the propagation laws among different drought types and understand the internal mechanisms that affect the development of drought during the water cycle.