Assessing Drought Conditions using SPEI in Bahawalpur Division, Punjab, Pakistan

Areeba Jamil; Muhammad Dawood; Ubaidullah

Authors

Areeba Jamil Department of Geography, Government College University, Lahore, Pakistan
Muhammad Dawood Department of Geography, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan
Ubaidullah Department of Geography and Geomatics, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan

Keywords:

Climate Change, Drought, Rainfall, Variability, SPEI

Abstract

This research study analyzes drought conditions using the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) in Bahawalpur Division, South Punjab, Pakistan. Drought is one of the most complex natural disasters and is difficult to predict due to several involved factors. Among all natural hazards, drought causes significant damage to human lives and other living communities. Nearly 85% of all disasters are related to weather events, and drought is one of the most damaging among them. In Pakistan, drought causes damage in many areas, and Bahawalpur Division is one of those facing severe drought conditions. Temporal data on temperature and rainfall were collected from the Pakistan Meteorological Department for the period 1992 to 2020. The data were analyzed spatially using GIS technology. Precipitation and temperature data were analyzed using SPEI to monitor drought in three selected districts in Bahawalpur Division: Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, and Rahim Yar Khan. The study revealed that less rainfall was recorded in all three districts, leading to drought conditions. Moreover, this reduced rainfall severely affected the concerned districts.

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