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Regional Drought Assessment Based on the Reconnaissance Drought Index (RDI)

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Abstract

Regional drought assessment is conventionally based on drought indices for the identification of drought intensity, duration and areal extent. In this study, a new index, the Reconnaissance Drought Index (RDI) is proposed together with the well known Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and the method of deciles. The new index exhibits significant advantages over the other indices by including apart from precipitation, an additional meteorological parameter, the potential evapotranspiration. The drought assessment is achieved using the above indices in two river basins, namely Mornos and Nestos basins in Greece. It is concluded that although the RDI generally responds in a similar fashion to the SPI (and to a lesser extent to the deciles), it is more sensitive and suitable in cases of a changing environment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for the Assessment of Natural Hazards and Proactive Planning and Laboratory of Reclamation Works and Water Resources Management, National Technical University of Athens, 9, Iroon Polytechniou, Athens, 15773, Greece

    G. Tsakiris, D. Pangalou & H. Vangelis

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  1. G. Tsakiris
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  2. D. Pangalou
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  3. H. Vangelis
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Correspondence to G. Tsakiris.

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Tsakiris, G., Pangalou, D. & Vangelis, H. Regional Drought Assessment Based on the Reconnaissance Drought Index (RDI). Water Resour Manage 21, 821–833 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-006-9105-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-006-9105-4

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