Publication Type
Journal Article
Publication Date (Issue Year)
2021
Journal Name
Environmental Systems Research
Abstract
Background
Below-normal availability of water for a considerable period of time induces occurrence of drought. This paper investigates the Spatio-temporal characteristics of meteorological drought under changing climate. The climate change was analyzed using delta based statistical downscaling approach of RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 in R software packages. The meteorological drought was assessed using the Reconnaissance Drought Index (RDI).
Results
The result of climate change projections showed that the average annual minimum temperature will be increased by about 0.8–2.9 °C. The mean annual maximum temperature will be also increased by 0.9–3.75 °C. The rainfall projection generally showed an increasing trend, it exhibited an average annual increase of 3.5–13.4 % over the study area. The projected drought events reached its maximum severity indicated extreme drought in the years 2043, 2044, 2073, and 2074. The RDI value shows drought will occurred after 1–6 and 2–7 years under RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 emission scenarios respectively over the study area. Almost more than 72 % of the current and future spatial coverage of drought in the study area will be affected by extreme drought, 22.3 % severely and 5.57 % also moderate drought.
Conclusions
Therefore, the study helps to provide useful information for policy decision makers to implement different adaptation and mitigation measures of drought in the region.
Keywords
Climate change, Projection, Meteorological drought, RDI, Drought characteristics
Rsif Scholar Name
Haftu Abrha Mengesha
Thematic Area
Climate Change
Africa Host University (AHU)
University Felix Houphouët-Boigny (U-FHB), Côte d'Ivoire
Funding Statement
This work was financially supported by Mekelle University under Institute of Climate and Society (ICS) small scale research grant registration number CPO/ ICS/Small/Recurrent/001/2010.
Recommended Citation
Yisehak, B., Shiferaw, H., Mengesha, H. A., Gebremedhin, A., Hagos, H., Adhana, K., & Bezabh, T. (2021). Spatio‐temporal characteristics of meteorological drought under changing climate in semi‐arid region of northern Ethiopia.. Environmental Systems Research, 10 (1), 21. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40068-021-00226-4