ASSESSMENT OF METEOROLOGICAL DROUGHT DUE TO RAINFALL VARIABILITY IN KEONJHAR, ODISHA (INDIA)

M. RAY¹*, H. PATRO², N. MISHRA^3
1Regional Research and Technology Transfer Station, RRTTS, OUAT, Keonjhar, Odisha, 758002
²Regional Research and Technology Transfer Station, RRTTS, OUAT, Keonjhar, Odisha, 758002
³Regional Research and Technology Transfer Station, RRTTS, OUAT, Keonjhar, Odisha, 758002
* Corresponding Author : monikarayouat@gmail.com

Received : 25-02-2016     Accepted : 12-04-2016     Published : 07-07-2016
Volume : 8     Issue : 23       Pages : 1460 - 1463
Int J Agr Sci 8.23 (2016):1460-1463

Keywords : Meteorological Drought, Drought intensity, Dry spell, Rainfall Pattern, Drought Frequency, Keonjhar
Academic Editor : Lokeshwari N., Karam Daljit Singh, Sharma Shaurya
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : None declared
Author Contribution : None declared

Rainfall is the most important but variable climatic parameter in suitable crop planning especially in the regions of rain fed agriculture. Rainfall data of 36 years (1980-2015) of Keonjhar district were analysed to find out the weekly, monthly, seasonal and yearly meteorological drought occurrence. The overall mean Annual Rainfall at Keonjhar district was worked out to be 892.53 mm, the maximum being 1859.9 mm is in the year 2011 and the minimum rainfall of the region is 455.3mm which was recorded in the year 1980. The highest drought frequency was observed in the 34th week and in the month of December to a tune of 21 and 25 times respectively. Based on Rainfall analysis, it was found that during 36 years no severe or extreme drought year was experienced. However, there were 9 moderate drought (1980, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1993, 2002, 2007, 2009) and 16 mild drought (1981, 1983, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2006) years.