Open AccessIntensification and persistence of kharif agricultural drought during 1987
Author(s) -
R. Prasad,
S. V. Datar
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
mausam
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 0252-9416
DOI - 10.54302/mausam.v40i3.2119
Subject(s) - kharif crop , persistence (discontinuity) , monsoon , arid , agriculture , geography , climatology , environmental science , ecology , biology , meteorology , geology , geotechnical engineering , archaeology
Weekly Aridity Index (AI) based on Thornthwaite's water balance technique has been employed to study the intensification and persistence of. kharif agricultural drought during the southwest monsoon season of 1987, In 33 meteorological sub-divisions of India, by adopting a simple criterion. The periods and areas of maximum intensification and persistence have been identified.
The analysis revealed that intensification occurred in only seven sub-divisions confined mostly to the northern and western regions of the country. Persistence was invariably associated with intensification whereas reverse observation was not perceptible. Mixed mode drought persistence was maximum in Rajasthan and Gujarat region. A comparison with meteorological drought, however, revealed that either intensification or persistence of agricultural drought did occur in those sub-divisions that were affected by severe meteorological drought.