Year: 2015
Type: report
Abstract: Natural disasters like droughts have a huge socio-economic impact on society. \nDespite being an important component of mitigation, the concept of vulnerabil- \nity in association with extreme events has not been explored much. This report \npresents a systematic approach for the assessment of drought hazard and identi - \ncation of drought vulnerability indicators pertinent to the state of Texas. A novel \ndrought index known as Multivariate Drought Index (MDI) was used to simultane- \nously quantify multiple physical forms of drought. A composite risk assessment was \nthen carried out by considering both hazard and vulnerability components. The risk, \nhazard, and vulnerability components were quanti ed using standardized indices like \nDrought Hazard Index (DHI), Drought Vulnerability Index (DVI), and Drought Risk \nIndex (DRI). A suitable classi cation scheme was adopted for these indices to group \nregions into classes ranging from low to high. Mapping of DHI, DVI, and DRI classes \nled to the generation of risk, hazard and vulnerability maps for Texas. The report \nemphasizes the importance of including vulnerability of the study area in the event \nof drought while drafting planning measures. Ultimately, the study aims at bridging \nthe gaps existing in the current drought research, which even though substantial, still \nfails to address some of the issues, and for developing a comprehensive framework \nfor better understanding of droughts in Texas which will help decision makers to \nformulate a more e ective adaptation and mitigation strategy in future.
Authors: Deepthi Rajsekhar, Vijay P. Singh
Language: English
Subfield: Global and Planetary Change
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: U.S. Geological Survey
Award: G1599075758
OpenAlex ID: W3111848548