ASSESSMENT OF METEOROLOGICAL DROUGHT USING SPATIAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Maps have been generated by integrating multi-source geo-referenced data sets in GIS platform. Measures have also been suggested for mitigation of drought in the vulnerable areas. Analysis of rainfall has been carried out for monthly, seasonal and yearly rainfall at Mandal level. Maps were prepared in GIS environment for annual, South West, North East, summer and winter rainfall for 457 mandals of Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh, India. Drought severity was assessed from the deficit of rainfall data by using the IMD methodology. Average annual rainfall was calculated for the years 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 which were found to be 1069.65mm, 798.20mm, 838.12mm, 969.66mm and 648.86 mm respectively. Percentage deviation from the corresponding average annual rainfall has been calculated during the above period as +17.92%, -14.54%, -7.19%, +6.54% and -26.87% and classified as Normal Rain, Drought, Drought, Normal Rain and Moderate drought respectively. It is concluded from the analysis that geo-informatics aided in obtaining useful information about the drought situation in a short time and in an economic way.