Propagation of Meteorological Drought to Agricultural and Hydrological Droughts in the Tropical Lancang–Mekong River Basin

Ganlin Feng; Yaoliang Chen; Lamin R. Mansaray; Hongfeng Xu; Aoni Shi; Yanling Chen

doi:10.3390/rs15245678

Remote Sensing (Dec 2023)

Propagation of Meteorological Drought to Agricultural and Hydrological Droughts in the Tropical Lancang–Mekong River Basin

Ganlin Feng,
Yaoliang Chen,
Lamin R. Mansaray,
Hongfeng Xu,
Aoni Shi,
Yanling Chen

Affiliations

Ganlin Feng: Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Subtropical Resources and Environment, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350007, China
Yaoliang Chen: Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Subtropical Resources and Environment, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350007, China
Lamin R. Mansaray: Laboratory of Remote Sensing and GIS, Institute of Geography and Development Studies, School of Environmental Sciences, Njala University, Njala Campus, PMB, Freetown 1313, Sierra Leone
Hongfeng Xu: Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Subtropical Resources and Environment, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350007, China
Aoni Shi: Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Subtropical Resources and Environment, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350007, China
Yanling Chen: Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Subtropical Resources and Environment, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350007, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15245678
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 15, no. 24
p. 5678

Abstract

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In the past several decades, drought events have occurred frequently around the world. However, research on the propagation of drought events has not been adequately explored. This study investigated the drought propagation process from meteorological drought to agricultural drought (PMAD) and from meteorological drought to hydrological drought (PMHD) using a 72-year reanalysis dataset in the tropical Lancang–Mekong River Basin. Firstly, we used a new method—Standardized Drought Analysis Toolbox—to construct drought indices. Then, a linear method (Pearson correlation analysis) and a nonlinear method (mutual information) were used to investigate the drought propagation process. Cross-wavelet analysis and wavelet coherence analysis were employed to explore the statistical relationship among the three drought types. Finally, the random forest method was applied to quantify the major factors in drought response time (DRT). The results revealed the following: (1) both linear and nonlinear methods exhibited strong temporal and spatial consistency for both PMAD and PMHD, with linear relationships being stronger than nonlinear ones. (2) The DRTs of PMAD and PMHD were around 1–2 months and 3–5 months, respectively. Significant differences existed in the DRT between the dry season and the rainy season. (3) A divergent spatial pattern of the proportion of DRT was observed between PMAD and PMHD. (4) Significant statistical correlations between meteorological drought and agricultural drought and between meteorological drought and hydrological drought were observed in specific periods for each sub-region; (5) Hydrometeorological factors contributed the most to DRT, followed by terrain factors and the land cover types. The findings of this study deepened our understanding of the spatial–temporal relationship of multiple drought propagation types in this transboundary river basin.

Published in Remote Sensing

ISSN: 2072-4292 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/remotesensing/

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