Spatio-temporal Assessment of Meteorological Drought Dynamics and Precipitation Variability in Pauri Garhwal District, Uttarakhand, India

Abstract

Meteorological drought is one of the major climatic hazards in the Himalayan region, impacting the agricultural production, water resource availability, and environmental sustainability. In the present study, the spatio-temporal variability of meteorological dryness and precipitation patterns in the study area Pauri Garhwal has been evaluated with the help of long-term rainfall data (1994-2024). Rainfall Anomaly Index (RAI) was applied to the district's fifteen administrative blocks for determining drought severity, temporal variability and wet/dry variability of the rainfall. The investigation revealed that there is significant temporal and regional variability in the distribution of rainfall in the District. The mean annual rainfall was determined to be approximately 1146 mm and variation between blocks was also assessed. The southwest monsoon contributed to almost 80% of the annual precipitation indicating high dependence on monsoonal rainfall. Persistent negative rainfall anomalies were used to identify a number of severe drought years, including 1997, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2019, 2023, and 2024. With a RAI score of −8.1, Khirsu block had the worst drought severity in 1997. The results also revealed that the area was becoming more vulnerable to drought conditions, as negative rainfall anomalies were becoming more frequent. Lots of blocks in the district also experienced extended dry spells that correlated with an increased vulnerability to forest fires and dry vegetation. The study emphasizes how crucial sustainable watershed management and scientific drought monitoring are to climate adaption and environmental preservation in Himalayan regions.