Geoinformatics for Drought

Management
 Definition
Drought have no universal definition. As drought definitions are region specific,
reflection differences in climatic characteristic as well as incorporating different
physical, biological and socio-economic variables.

Some common definitions of Drought can be noted as under:

• “Severe water shortage” (Common Wealth Bureau of Meteorology, 1965)
• “It is an interval of time, generally of the order of months in duration, during
which actual moisture supply at a given place consistently falls short”.
• “Drought is a period of abnormally dry weather sufficiently for the lack of
precipitation to cause a serious hydrological imbalance and carries
connotation of moisture deficiency with respect to the man’s usage of water”.
 Why studying Drought
By comparing drought with all other natural hazards, it is very tough to
discover since it develops slowly and have massive effect on the society and
environment. In the recent years large scale intensive droughts have been
observed in all continents leading to huge economic losses, destruction of
ecological resources, food shortages and starvation of millions of people.
Drought is a natural disaster which is hard to predict and it is complex to study.
Hence, in many countries satellite based drought indications have been
recommended for early identification. Weather-related satellite based
directories are used to identify variety of drought, comprising climatological,
farming and hydrological drought. On account of the growth in water
request and impending climate change, latest years have perceived much
concentration on worldwide drought circumstances. The numerous
atmospheric variables such as rainfall, temperature, soil moisture and vapor
transpiration are essential to determine drought rigorousness level.
 Importance of Geoinformatics

Remote sensing techniques sort it promising consideration to acquire and allocate

information promptly over large extents through sensors functioning in a number of
spectral bands, attached on satellites. The major work done by the satellite is to orbit the
earth and also reveal the entire surface in a short period and also repeat the same
process of the same area at affixed intervals, whereas an aircraft can stretch a more
comprehensive exploration of a smaller area, if an exact need is essential. The
enormous growth of the technology in the aerospace field, the Geographical
Information Systems benefit to progression Remote Sensing interpretations from
satellites. In a spatial format of maps - both separately and along with tabular data and
moment of truth organized to afford a new awareness - the spatial conception of
information of natural resources. The integration of information derived from RS
techniques with other datasets - both in spatial and non-spatial formats provides
tremendous potential for identification, monitoring and assessment of droughts.
 Classification of Drought
METEOROLOGICAL DROUGHT
Meteorological drought is well-defined on the origin of the grade of dryness and the interval of the dry
period. It is recognizing based on rainfall data. When actual rainfall over an area is significantly less than the
climatological mean. Data sets vital to evaluate meteorological drought are precipitation, temperature,
moisture, wind velocity, pressure and evaporation.
AGRICULTURAL DROUGHT
when inadequate soil moisture produces acute crop stress and affects productivity. It is termed in relations with
crop yield disaster and occurs when sludge/mud moisture is exhausted so that crop yield is decreased
significantly. Plant water demand depends on prevailing weather, organic features of the crop, phase of
development, physical and organic health of soil. Data sets necessary to evaluate agricultural drought are soil
consistency, richness and soil humidity, crop kind and area, crop water necessities, pests and climate.
HYDROLOGICAL DROUGHT
when there is marked depletion of surface water causing very low stream flow and drying of lakes, reservoirs and
rivers. Data sets necessary to evaluate hydrological drought are surface water area and capacity, surface runoff,
stream flow dimensions, penetration, water table variations, and aquifer limitations.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC DROUGHT
It varies from the other types of drought in terms of supply and demand of food products. Socioeconomic
drought takes place when the demand for food products surpasses the supply as a consequence of a weather-
related deficit in water supply.
Sequence of Drought impacts
 How Geoinformatics help in Drought management
RS and GIS can be used for creation of the different spatial and non-spatial database. The
following spatial database layers can be prepared, processed and analysed for drought
assessment.

1. Watershed and administrated boundaries

2. Preparation of Rainfall Distribution Map from ground stations or remote sensing products
(TRMM, GPM)
3. Preparation of Stream order and Density Map
4. Preparation of Land Use land Cover Map
5. Preparation of Crop stress maps using NDVI
6. Metrological drought map
7. Hydrological drought map
8. Thematic layer integration
LULC in different
rainfall periods
RS and GIS for
Cyclone study