Using GIS tool for presenting spatial distribution of drought

Abstract

By using GIS tools, it is possible to improve the preview of hydrological processes such as evapotranspiration, precipitation, flood and drought. In order to quantify drought, different type of drought indicators have been developed such as Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), Reconnaissance Drought Index (RDI), Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) or Water Surplus Variability Index (WSVI). In this paper the precipitation-based SPI indicator was applied to the monthly precipitation data from Serbia during the period 1948-2012. The data were processed in the QuantumGIS software package. For the purpose of application in the monitoring of drought at the national level, a spatial presentation of meteorological drought was obtained.