Spatial and Temporal Assessment of Drought Hazard, Vulnerability and Risk in Three Different Climatic Zones in Algeria Using Two Commonly Used Meteorological Indices

Abstract

Drought is considered a natural hazard and has become a recurrent phenomenon in Algeria since the 1970s. Algeria is characterized by three different climates, namely, sub-humid, semi-arid and arid climates. In this study, we aimed to spatiotemporally assess drought hazard, vulnerability and risk in the three climates of three sub-basins, namely, the Seybouse Maritime, Wadi Djelfa-Hadjia and Wadi M’Zi sub-basins. To this end, the standardized precipitation index (SPI) and the reconnaissance drought index (RDI) were used to evaluate drought physical characteristics on a 12-month timescale, based on precipitation and temperature monthly data covering the period of 1979–2019. High values of the coefficient of determination (R2) (0.76–0.99) confirmed by low values of the root-mean-square error (RMSE) (0.08–0.49) proved that the drought indices displayed a high correlation. Drought hazard and vulnerability were evaluated based on physical characteristics and socioeconomic aspects, respectively. The results led to the determination of a high correlation between the two indices used; the determination of the main drought events; and the mapping of the drought hazard, vulnerability and risk using a geographic information system (GIS). These findings suggest that the SPI provided the highest intensities, while the longest periods and the strongest magnitudes were given by the RDI. The spatiotemporal drought distributions varied with time from station to station and from sub-basin to sub-basin. Risk maps revealed that vulnerability based on socioeconomic factors controls drought risk.

The Emergence of Irrigated Agriculture in Semi-Arid Zones in the Face of Climate Change and Urbanization in Peri-Urban Areas in Setif, Algeria

“…The data utilized in this study (Figure 5a,b) confirm the semi-arid nature of the study area, which is consistent with previous research indicating that the Sétif region consistently maintains its status in the semi-arid bioclimatic zone, with a slight shift towards arid conditions [23]. Moreover, the semi-arid climatic zone has experienced an increased susceptibility to drought in recent years due to reduced precipitation and prolonged dry periods, exacerbated by the delayed arrival of the autumn season, a factor that is currently impacting and will further affect the nature of agricultural crops [24]. The crop cycle will accelerate, leading to consequences for early growth stages and cycle duration [25], which will ultimately influence the agricultural production in the study area, which has been known for cereal cultivation and livestock farming, characterized by a concurrent and integrated cycle.…”

Mapping Groundwater Potential Zones with GIS-RS-AHP Under Climate Change: Case of Mostaganem Plateau, Northwest Algeria

“…Two GPZs maps were generated for the study area in 2000 and 2014, with the following factors: LULC, and rainfall (for both years), geology, lineament density, soil, slope, and drainage density. The study periods were selected based on the surge of population growth in 2000 after a long period of slow growth, the launching and application of the National Agricultural Development Program (PNDA), which aimed to modernize, intensify and expand the agricultural sector along with irrigation capacities to reach food security (Laoubi and Yamao, 2012), and the intensification and persistence of drought over northern Algeria in 2000 (Haied et al, 2023). The year 2014 was selected because of the lack piezometric monitoring past this year for the study region.…”