Spatiotemporal dynamics of meteorological and agricultural drought, part of Manbhum-Singhbhum Plateau (India): Four decades study using NASA POWER and MODIS data

Abstract

Drought is an extremely hazardous situation that predominantly affects ecosystems, hydrological systems, and agricultural mechanisms in different pockets of the world. Management of water resources in dry and semi-arid environments has become a critical challenge in the last few decades. The principal objectives of this study are (i) to categorize the severity and frequency of drought events using the Reconnaissance Drought Index and Rainfall Deviation Index and ii) to evaluate the spatial extension of drought in particular drought times of severe and extreme droughts through Remote Sensing Drought Indices (RSDIs). This drought monitoring index is commonly used index for its high degree of resilience and sensitivity to droughts. The result shows that severe to extreme drought occurred in Bero, Tulin, Sirkabad, Manbazar and Bundwan which are 22, 28, 23, 14 and 25 months correspondingly based on RDI3 whereas RDI12 values indicated 26, 47, 42, 22 and 38 months in the study period (1981 to 2021). Bundwan area faced the most extreme drought occurrence in May month of 1996 with −3.58 values followed by Sirkabad, Bero, Manbazar and Tulin. Manbazar is going through severe to extreme drought months (for short time) whereas ‘extreme drought’ frequency (1.67 % to 1.05 %) is higher in the western part mainly in Jhalda I, Jhalda II, Bagmundi, and Arsha blocks of Purulia district (part of Manbhum Singhbhum Plateau). Additionally, the recurrence of ‘moderate drought’ is much greater in Balarampur along with some portions of Purulia I block. The whole study can be summarized as the northeastern portion being challenged with moderate or severe drought conditions while mild or severe drought is a considerable recurrence in the northern section. The outcome of this study will be helpful for local planners and management officials during implementation strategies related to water resource management.