Monitoring Spatio-Temporal Pattern of Meteorological Drought Stress Using Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) over Bundelkhand Region of Uttar Pradesh, India

The evaluation of meteorological drought stress has been carried out over the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh. The study involves all seven districts (Jhansi, Jalaun, Hamirpur, Lalitpur, Banda, Mahoba and Chitrakoot) of this region. Datasets of mean monthly precipitation have been derived from the Climate Research Unit (CRU) between the period of 1980 and 2020. The study employs the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) at 3-, 6- and 12-month time scale. The result revealed that the frequency and intensity of drought events have increased in last decade and occurrence varied once in every 3 years. The duration of drought events has also increased, as it shows it prevails 3–12 months in some years. It depicts that all seven districts of the Bundelkhand region are drought prone with varied intensities and durations.