Abstract
There are several methods and indices to characterize drought, but none of them is superior to the others in all circumstances. The most frequently used indices in North America are the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI). Each one has characteristics which can be advantageously used to characterize drought and trigger actions established in Drought Mitigation Plans. The 1944 Mexico-US Treaty on conjunctive management of the Colorado, Tijuana and Bravo/Grande Rivers, for example, foresees ways to modify the mutual water allocations between the two countries in case of extreme drought. However, it does not define precisely such concept. Therefore, it is important to examine in detail the applicability and characteristics of both methods to characterize droughts. This paper shows the application of the SPI, which is based only on precipitation data and reflects the temporary rain efficiency, considered as the hydrological component that determines, to a great extent, the occurrence and characteristics of a drought. The PDSI method is also studied. This index is based on soil moisture balance for the soil layer where crops grow, and, therefore, not only precipitation and temperature have influence in water availability, but also soil characteristics are decisive. Both indices are applied to the Conchos and Pecos watersheds, in order to evaluate their behavior. When time scales are appropriate for both methods, the results obtained are similar, and they show that droughts have been persistent and recurrent over the region during the last few years. Besides, a sensitivity analysis of PDSI to some parameters is presented.
| Original language | Spanish |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 37-53 |
| Number of pages | 17 |
| Journal | Ingenieria Hidraulica en Mexico |
| Volume | 19 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| State | Published - Jul 2004 |
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Keywords
- Drought
- Drought indices
- Rainfall insufficiency
- Water deficit
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Water Science and Technology
- Civil and Structural Engineering
Cite this
Evaluación de índices de sequía en las cuencas de afluentes del río Bravo/Grande. / Velasco, Israel; Aparicio, Javier; Valdes, Juan B; Velázquez, Jaime; Kim, Tae Woong.
In: Ingenieria Hidraulica en Mexico, Vol. 19, No. 3, 07.2004, p. 37-53.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Evaluación de índices de sequía en las cuencas de afluentes del río Bravo/Grande
AU - Velasco, Israel
AU - Aparicio, Javier
AU - Valdes, Juan B
AU - Velázquez, Jaime
AU - Kim, Tae Woong
PY - 2004/7
Y1 - 2004/7
N2 - There are several methods and indices to characterize drought, but none of them is superior to the others in all circumstances. The most frequently used indices in North America are the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI). Each one has characteristics which can be advantageously used to characterize drought and trigger actions established in Drought Mitigation Plans. The 1944 Mexico-US Treaty on conjunctive management of the Colorado, Tijuana and Bravo/Grande Rivers, for example, foresees ways to modify the mutual water allocations between the two countries in case of extreme drought. However, it does not define precisely such concept. Therefore, it is important to examine in detail the applicability and characteristics of both methods to characterize droughts. This paper shows the application of the SPI, which is based only on precipitation data and reflects the temporary rain efficiency, considered as the hydrological component that determines, to a great extent, the occurrence and characteristics of a drought. The PDSI method is also studied. This index is based on soil moisture balance for the soil layer where crops grow, and, therefore, not only precipitation and temperature have influence in water availability, but also soil characteristics are decisive. Both indices are applied to the Conchos and Pecos watersheds, in order to evaluate their behavior. When time scales are appropriate for both methods, the results obtained are similar, and they show that droughts have been persistent and recurrent over the region during the last few years. Besides, a sensitivity analysis of PDSI to some parameters is presented.
AB - There are several methods and indices to characterize drought, but none of them is superior to the others in all circumstances. The most frequently used indices in North America are the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI). Each one has characteristics which can be advantageously used to characterize drought and trigger actions established in Drought Mitigation Plans. The 1944 Mexico-US Treaty on conjunctive management of the Colorado, Tijuana and Bravo/Grande Rivers, for example, foresees ways to modify the mutual water allocations between the two countries in case of extreme drought. However, it does not define precisely such concept. Therefore, it is important to examine in detail the applicability and characteristics of both methods to characterize droughts. This paper shows the application of the SPI, which is based only on precipitation data and reflects the temporary rain efficiency, considered as the hydrological component that determines, to a great extent, the occurrence and characteristics of a drought. The PDSI method is also studied. This index is based on soil moisture balance for the soil layer where crops grow, and, therefore, not only precipitation and temperature have influence in water availability, but also soil characteristics are decisive. Both indices are applied to the Conchos and Pecos watersheds, in order to evaluate their behavior. When time scales are appropriate for both methods, the results obtained are similar, and they show that droughts have been persistent and recurrent over the region during the last few years. Besides, a sensitivity analysis of PDSI to some parameters is presented.
KW - Drought
KW - Drought indices
KW - Rainfall insufficiency
KW - Water deficit
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=4344679513&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=4344679513&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:4344679513
VL - 19
SP - 37
EP - 53
JO - Tecnologia y Ciencias del Agua
JF - Tecnologia y Ciencias del Agua
SN - 0187-8336
IS - 3
ER -