Spatiotemporal Variation of Drought in Inner Mongolia Estimated Based on the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index

Abstract

【Objective】 Global warming is expected to increase the frequency of extreme weathers such as flooding and drought. Understanding their spatiotemporal variation is important to help mitigate its detrimental impact. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the spatiotemporal variation of drought in Inner Mongolia of China. 【Method】 The analysis was based on meteorological data measured from 1951 to 2018 from 50 weather stations across the region. The occurrence and severity of the drought was quantified using the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI). 【Result】 An abrupt climate change occurred around 1979. Since then, most areas in the region have seen an ease of drought stress. Since 1996, however, western Inner Mongolian have seen a return of the drought. Spatially, severe droughts occurred mainly in central-western Inner Mongolia, and southern Chifeng and Tongliao. 【Conclusion】 SPEI can be used as an index to quantify drought at provincial scale. Its application to Inner Mongolia reveals that the province has undergone alternate drought and humidified climate since 1951. Drought occurred more frequently and severely in the central-western province than in other areas.

Keywords

• standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index
• spatiotemporal variation
• drought
• inner mongolia