An assessment of historical short-time precipitation deficiency in eastern Slovakia and northern Serbia according to the SPI-3

Abstract

Short-term precipitation deficiency is one of the primary causes of agricultural drought, which can have far-reaching consequences on various aspects such as society, environment, and the economy. This complex natural phenomenon attracts more attention due to changes in precipitation pattern. The use of the SPI-3 index for the quantitative measure of precipitation anomalies over a three-month period across the eastern part of Slovakia and the northern part of Serbia is a valuable approach in understanding and managing drought conditions in these countries with different climate conditions. The SPI-3 can be highly beneficial for the farmers, policymakers, and water resource managers when it comes to making informed decisions about irrigation, crop selection and water allocation during drought events. In northern Serbia and eastern Slovakia, the extreme precipitation anomalies often occur during the autumn season. Predicting extreme rainfall anomalies, especially during the growing season, is highly justified and essential for effective natural risk management in agriculture-dependent countries. The average inter-arrival time of an extreme precipitation deficit is in the north of Serbia ranges from 3.1 to 5.1 years, while in the east of Slovakia it ranges from 3.2 to 5.9 years.