Climatic teleconnection of the future trend of meteorological, GRACE-DSI, and vegetation-conditioned-based drought analysis in the Ganga Basin

• Published in: Water science & technology. Water supply Vol. 24; no. 8; pp. 2641 - 2669
• Main Authors: Hasan, Mohd Sayeed Ul, Akhtar, Nadeem, Rai, Abhishek Kumar, Amir Khan, Mohd, Alfaisal, Faisal M., Alharbi, Raied Saad, Hashim, Khalid S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London IWA Publishing 01.08.2024
• Subjects: Basins; Climate; Climate change; Climatic conditions; Decision making; Drought; Environmental impact; Geographic information systems; Geographical information systems; GRACE (experiment); Groundwater; Groundwater recharge; Hydrology; Information systems; Irrigation; Land conservation; Land use; Precipitation; Rain; Regions; Remote sensing; Resource management; River basins; Sustainable use; Vegetation; Water conservation; Water resources; Water resources management; Uttarakhand India; Ganges River; India
• ISSN: 1606-9749; 1607-0798
• DOI: 10.2166/ws.2024.173

ABSTRACT This study assesses drought in the Ganga River Basin using standard precipitation index (SPI), Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Drought Severity Index (GRACE-DSI), and vegetation condition index (VCI) via geographic information system (GIS) and non-parametric tests. Future SPI trends show increasing drought severity from 1986 to 2020. GRACE-DSI analysis (2002–2020) indicates a potential rise in drought conditions. VCI computations reveal vegetation health dynamics. Findings suggest an impending severe drought in the Ganga Basin, necessitating urgent water resource management. Drought causes are linked to precipitation changes and resource over-exploitation in changing climate conditions. The study emphasizes implementing measures like water conservation, sustainable land use, and groundwater recharge strategies to mitigate drought impacts.