Drought Variability and Characteristics in the Muda River Basin of Malaysia from 1985 to 2019

This study aimed to analyze the spatiotemporal changes of historical droughts over the Muda River basin (MRB), Malaysia, from 1985 to 2019 using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and the Standardized Streamflow Index (SSI). The Mann–Kendall test and Sens’ slope were used to evaluate the tre...

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Main Authors: Zibeon bin Luhaim, Mou Leong Tan, Fredolin Tangang, Zed Zulkafli, Kwok Pan Chun, Zulkifli Yusop, Zaher Mundher Yaseen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-09-01
Series:Atmosphere
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/12/9/1210
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author Zibeon bin Luhaim
Mou Leong Tan
Fredolin Tangang
Zed Zulkafli
Kwok Pan Chun
Zulkifli Yusop
Zaher Mundher Yaseen
author_facet Zibeon bin Luhaim
Mou Leong Tan
Fredolin Tangang
Zed Zulkafli
Kwok Pan Chun
Zulkifli Yusop
Zaher Mundher Yaseen
author_sort Zibeon bin Luhaim
collection DOAJ
description This study aimed to analyze the spatiotemporal changes of historical droughts over the Muda River basin (MRB), Malaysia, from 1985 to 2019 using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and the Standardized Streamflow Index (SSI). The Mann–Kendall test and Sens’ slope were used to evaluate the trends and magnitude changes in the droughts, respectively, while Spearman’s rho was applied to understand the relationships of the droughts with large-scale atmospheric circulations, such as the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), and the Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO). The results show that the intense droughts in the MRB mostly occurred in 1991–1992, 1995, 1998, 2002–2003, 2005–2006, 2008, 2012–2013, and 2016. In addition, a declining SPI trend was found from May to December at most of the stations. About 80% of the stations experienced about 10 severely dry droughts, while almost all stations experienced at least 5 extremely dry events. Moreover, a higher response rate of the SSI than the SPI was found during low-rainfall months from January to May. Lastly, ENSO had a larger impact on the drought formations over the MRB compared to the IOD and MJO, especially during the dry period.
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spelling doaj.art-62d579532fbf4061b8f66a083da74cda2023-11-22T12:00:56ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332021-09-01129121010.3390/atmos12091210Drought Variability and Characteristics in the Muda River Basin of Malaysia from 1985 to 2019Zibeon bin Luhaim0Mou Leong Tan1Fredolin Tangang2Zed Zulkafli3Kwok Pan Chun4Zulkifli Yusop5Zaher Mundher Yaseen6GeoInformatic Unit, Geography Section, School of Humanities, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Gelugor 11800, Penang, MalaysiaGeoInformatic Unit, Geography Section, School of Humanities, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Gelugor 11800, Penang, MalaysiaDepartment of Earth Sciences and Environment, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Selangor, MalaysiaDepartment of Civil Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 143400, Selangor, MalaysiaDepartment of Geography, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong 999077, ChinaCenter for Environmental Sustainability and Water Security (IPASA), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Skudai 81310, Johore, MalaysiaNew Era and Development in Civil Engineering Research Group, Scientific Research Center, Al-Ayen University, Nasiriyah 64001, Thi-Qar, IraqThis study aimed to analyze the spatiotemporal changes of historical droughts over the Muda River basin (MRB), Malaysia, from 1985 to 2019 using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and the Standardized Streamflow Index (SSI). The Mann–Kendall test and Sens’ slope were used to evaluate the trends and magnitude changes in the droughts, respectively, while Spearman’s rho was applied to understand the relationships of the droughts with large-scale atmospheric circulations, such as the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), and the Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO). The results show that the intense droughts in the MRB mostly occurred in 1991–1992, 1995, 1998, 2002–2003, 2005–2006, 2008, 2012–2013, and 2016. In addition, a declining SPI trend was found from May to December at most of the stations. About 80% of the stations experienced about 10 severely dry droughts, while almost all stations experienced at least 5 extremely dry events. Moreover, a higher response rate of the SSI than the SPI was found during low-rainfall months from January to May. Lastly, ENSO had a larger impact on the drought formations over the MRB compared to the IOD and MJO, especially during the dry period.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/12/9/1210droughtStandardized Precipitation Index (SPI)Muda RiverMalaysiatropical rainfallENSO
spellingShingle Zibeon bin Luhaim
Mou Leong Tan
Fredolin Tangang
Zed Zulkafli
Kwok Pan Chun
Zulkifli Yusop
Zaher Mundher Yaseen
Drought Variability and Characteristics in the Muda River Basin of Malaysia from 1985 to 2019
Atmosphere
drought
Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI)
Muda River
Malaysia
tropical rainfall
ENSO
title Drought Variability and Characteristics in the Muda River Basin of Malaysia from 1985 to 2019
title_full Drought Variability and Characteristics in the Muda River Basin of Malaysia from 1985 to 2019
title_fullStr Drought Variability and Characteristics in the Muda River Basin of Malaysia from 1985 to 2019
title_full_unstemmed Drought Variability and Characteristics in the Muda River Basin of Malaysia from 1985 to 2019
title_short Drought Variability and Characteristics in the Muda River Basin of Malaysia from 1985 to 2019
title_sort drought variability and characteristics in the muda river basin of malaysia from 1985 to 2019
topic drought
Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI)
Muda River
Malaysia
tropical rainfall
ENSO
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/12/9/1210
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AT mouleongtan droughtvariabilityandcharacteristicsinthemudariverbasinofmalaysiafrom1985to2019
AT fredolintangang droughtvariabilityandcharacteristicsinthemudariverbasinofmalaysiafrom1985to2019
AT zedzulkafli droughtvariabilityandcharacteristicsinthemudariverbasinofmalaysiafrom1985to2019
AT kwokpanchun droughtvariabilityandcharacteristicsinthemudariverbasinofmalaysiafrom1985to2019
AT zulkifliyusop droughtvariabilityandcharacteristicsinthemudariverbasinofmalaysiafrom1985to2019
AT zahermundheryaseen droughtvariabilityandcharacteristicsinthemudariverbasinofmalaysiafrom1985to2019