Spatial Drought Monitoring in Thar Desert Using Satellite-Based Drought Indices and Geo-Informatics Techniques
Drought is a continuous process in Thar Desert, Pakistan. The extent of this drought needs to be assessed for future land use and adaptation. The effect of previous drought on vegetation cover of the Thar region was studied, through combined use of drought indices and geographic information (GIS) te...
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MDPI AG
2017-11-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3900/2/5/179 |
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| author | Muhammad Bilal Muhammad Usman Liaqat Muhammad Jehanzeb Masud Cheema Talha Mahmood Qasim Khan |
| author_facet | Muhammad Bilal Muhammad Usman Liaqat Muhammad Jehanzeb Masud Cheema Talha Mahmood Qasim Khan |
| author_sort | Muhammad Bilal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Drought is a continuous process in Thar Desert, Pakistan. The extent of this drought needs to be assessed for future land use and adaptation. The effect of previous drought on vegetation cover of the Thar region was studied, through combined use of drought indices and geographic information (GIS) techniques. Five years (2002, 2005, 2008, 2011 and 2014) were selected to analyze the drought conditions and land use pattern of the Thar region. The drought indices used in this study included the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the Standard Precipitation Index (SPI). Images of past drought were compared with post-drought images of our targeted area and land use maps were developed for spatio-temporal analysis. The results of the study revealed that vegetation in Thar showed an improving trend from 2002 to 2011 and then declined from 2011 to 2014. The rainfall occurred at a below average rate and SPI values for each year were calculated to be negative, indicating below average rainfall. This actual precipitation data was then compared with the data obtained from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite and R2; Pearson correlation coefficients were also calculated. The R2 values for the years 2002 and 2014 were 0.519 and 0.670 respectively. In the same manner, the Pearson correlation coefficient values for the years 2002 and 2014 were 0.721 and 0.867 respectively. The results showed the TRMM satellite’s over-estimation in calculating rainfall data. Further, the average temperature for the five years under study was analyzed by graphical representation and it was revealed that the temperature of Thar has increased by almost 1 °C during the last decade. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T00:31:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-86760fe3e99f4a01b2e9c3b8229b0995 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2504-3900 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T00:31:15Z |
| publishDate | 2017-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Proceedings |
| spelling | doaj.art-86760fe3e99f4a01b2e9c3b8229b09952022-12-22T03:10:27ZengMDPI AGProceedings2504-39002017-11-012517910.3390/ecws-2-04948ecws-2-04948Spatial Drought Monitoring in Thar Desert Using Satellite-Based Drought Indices and Geo-Informatics TechniquesMuhammad Bilal0Muhammad Usman Liaqat1Muhammad Jehanzeb Masud Cheema2Talha Mahmood3Qasim Khan4Department of Irrigation and Drainage, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, PakistanDepartment of Irrigation and Drainage, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, PakistanDepartment of Irrigation and Drainage, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, PakistanDepartment of Irrigation and Drainage, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, PakistanDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 15551, UAEDrought is a continuous process in Thar Desert, Pakistan. The extent of this drought needs to be assessed for future land use and adaptation. The effect of previous drought on vegetation cover of the Thar region was studied, through combined use of drought indices and geographic information (GIS) techniques. Five years (2002, 2005, 2008, 2011 and 2014) were selected to analyze the drought conditions and land use pattern of the Thar region. The drought indices used in this study included the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the Standard Precipitation Index (SPI). Images of past drought were compared with post-drought images of our targeted area and land use maps were developed for spatio-temporal analysis. The results of the study revealed that vegetation in Thar showed an improving trend from 2002 to 2011 and then declined from 2011 to 2014. The rainfall occurred at a below average rate and SPI values for each year were calculated to be negative, indicating below average rainfall. This actual precipitation data was then compared with the data obtained from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite and R2; Pearson correlation coefficients were also calculated. The R2 values for the years 2002 and 2014 were 0.519 and 0.670 respectively. In the same manner, the Pearson correlation coefficient values for the years 2002 and 2014 were 0.721 and 0.867 respectively. The results showed the TRMM satellite’s over-estimation in calculating rainfall data. Further, the average temperature for the five years under study was analyzed by graphical representation and it was revealed that the temperature of Thar has increased by almost 1 °C during the last decade.https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3900/2/5/179drought indicesMODISTRMMmeteorological data |
| spellingShingle | Muhammad Bilal Muhammad Usman Liaqat Muhammad Jehanzeb Masud Cheema Talha Mahmood Qasim Khan Spatial Drought Monitoring in Thar Desert Using Satellite-Based Drought Indices and Geo-Informatics Techniques Proceedings drought indices MODIS TRMM meteorological data |
| title | Spatial Drought Monitoring in Thar Desert Using Satellite-Based Drought Indices and Geo-Informatics Techniques |
| title_full | Spatial Drought Monitoring in Thar Desert Using Satellite-Based Drought Indices and Geo-Informatics Techniques |
| title_fullStr | Spatial Drought Monitoring in Thar Desert Using Satellite-Based Drought Indices and Geo-Informatics Techniques |
| title_full_unstemmed | Spatial Drought Monitoring in Thar Desert Using Satellite-Based Drought Indices and Geo-Informatics Techniques |
| title_short | Spatial Drought Monitoring in Thar Desert Using Satellite-Based Drought Indices and Geo-Informatics Techniques |
| title_sort | spatial drought monitoring in thar desert using satellite based drought indices and geo informatics techniques |
| topic | drought indices MODIS TRMM meteorological data |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3900/2/5/179 |
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