Examining the spatial and temporal vulnerability to drought in Odisha, India

Abstract

The research focuses on investigating the spatial and temporal vulnerability to drought in Odisha, India, utilizing the Standard Precipitation Index (SPI), Drought Index (DI), and Rainfall Anomaly Index (RAI). The historical precipitation data are utilized to identify areas with prolonged rainfall deficits, quantifying the severity and duration of drought conditions. Preliminary analysis includes Normality and Homogeneity tests to ensure the validity of the precipitation datasets. The results depict the use of a non-parametric test for which Mann–Kendall trend test and Sen's Slope test are conducted. The districts exhibiting significant decreasing trends are identified as most critical for drought assessment. The findings from drought indices indicate that most districts have been affected by drought for approximately 50 years, with some districts experiencing severe or extreme conditions for over 10 years. Among the nine districts exhibiting a decreasing trend, four districts demonstrate a significant trend at a 5% significance level. These four districts are experiencing extremely and severely dry conditions, and while they display a significant decreasing trend, they are potentially vulnerable to the adverse impacts of drought conditions in the future. The study will serve in understanding and addressing the vulnerability to drought in Odisha, providing crucial insights for effective mitigation and management strategies.