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Analysis of temporal and spatial variations of drought over Serbia by investigating the applicability of precipitation-based drought indices

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Abstract

The precipitation-based indices such as the standardized precipitation index (SPI), the standardized anomaly index (SAI), the rainfall anomaly index (RAI), the percent of normal precipitation (PNP), the China Z index (CZI), and the modified China Z index (MCZI) were compared using monthly precipitation data from 28 synoptic stations in Serbia for the period 1946–2019. The MCZI and CZI showed the lowest similarity to the SPI index that was selected as a reference drought index. According to the findings of the present study, the RAI index was proposed as an index that has the most similar performance to the SPI index. Based on the spatial distribution of the RAI values for the year 2000, the whole region except the western part of Serbia can be classified as extremely dry.

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The data are available from the corresponding author upon request.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tehran, Iran

    Mohammad Arab Amiri

  2. Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Nis, Aleksandra Medvedeva 14, Nis, 18000, Serbia

    Milan Gocic

Authors
  1. Mohammad Arab Amiri
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  2. Milan Gocic
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Contributions

Mohammad Arab Amiri prepared a methodology part, applied necessary methods using different software, and wrote the draft version of the manuscript. Milan Gocic conceptualized the manuscript and did the supervision and validation.

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Correspondence to Milan Gocic.

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In our research, we have not involved human subjects. Also, this study is not related to the human transplantation studies. This manuscript does not report studies involving vulnerable groups.

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Amiri, M.A., Gocic, M. Analysis of temporal and spatial variations of drought over Serbia by investigating the applicability of precipitation-based drought indices. Theor Appl Climatol 154, 261–274 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-023-04554-6

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