This is an article from the Summer 2015 VPS. For more VPS articles, click here
Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), Scaled Drought Condition Index (SDCI), and Soil Moisture over the Kingdom of Thailand for April 2005. Image Credit: Thailand Disasters Team
Category: Assessing Drought and Water Availability
Project Team: Thailand Disasters
Team Location: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center – Greenbelt, Maryland, and Wise County Clerk of Court’s Office – Wise, Virginia
Authors:
Sean McCartney
Nobphadon Suksangpanya
Chisaphat Supunyachotsakul
Srisunee Wuthiwongyothin
Sahakait Benyasut
Thanapat Vichienlux
Mentors/Advisors:
Dr. John Bolten (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)
Colin Doyle (Universities Space Research Association [USRA])
Abstract:
Drought is a natural disaster impacting agricultural, environmental, and economic livelihoods. The Kingdom of Thailand is impacted by drought due to the variability of monsoon rains as well as other unfavorable meteorological conditions. The drought of 2015 was the worst drought to impact Thailand in more than 15 years. As one of the biggest exporters of rice in the world, drought has the ability to impact the economy of Thailand in a big way. The available drought monitoring system in Thailand looked only at agricultural drought. This was insufficient for analyzing accurate risk management and decision-making. Using data from various Earth observing satellites, such as Terra Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), Aqua MODIS, Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) and Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM), and in-situ stations, this study utilized three indices to analyze and monitor the current state of meteorological, hydrological and agricultural drought across Thailand. The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) was used in monitoring meteorological drought, the Stream-Flow Drought Index (SDI) was used in monitoring hydrological drought, and the Scaled Drought Condition Index (SDCI) was used in monitoring agricultural drought. All indices were based on a monthly temporal resolution for monitoring drought. The study demonstrated how a combination of various indices can offer better understanding of drought conditions, with data derived from Earth observing satellites offering the ability to monitor drought across the entire country and in near-real time.