Parallel Analysis of Monthly Precipitation Series and Drought Indices in Croatia (1951-2010)

Abstract

This paper deals with the parallel analysis of monthly precipitation series and drought indices in Croatia for the 1951-2010 period. The monthly precipitation amounts for the nine meteorological stations that are representing the majority of climate types in Croatia were used. In order to determine the precipitation variability features and the drought occurrence frequency, the analysis was conducted over four 30-year periods (1951-1980, 1961-1990, 1971-2000 and 1981-2010). As a measure of drought, the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and the Rainfall Anomaly Index (RAI) were used. The precipitation amount decrease and the variability increase were determined for many of the analysed stations, but there are significant regional and seasonal differences. Using RAI and SPI6 several drought episodes in the research period were determined. The drought occurrence in the warm part of the year (April to September) that corresponds to the vegetation period in Croatia was analysed.

Keywords

• drought
• precipitation variability
• drought indices
• croatia