Developing a Near Real-Time Satellite-Based Global Drought Monitoring System

Kolhe Parag Namdeo; Dr. Rajesh Keshavrao Deshmukh

doi:10.32628/IJSRST

Authors

Kolhe Parag Namdeo Research Scholar, Kalinga University, Chhattisgarh, India Author
Dr. Rajesh Keshavrao Deshmukh Professor, Department of Computer science and engineering, Kalinga University, Chhattisgarh, India Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32628/IJSRST

Keywords:

Drought Monitoring, Satellite Precipitation Data, Climate Data Record, Bayesian Correction Algorithm, Real-Time Data, Global Precipitation Climatology Project

Abstract

Reliable drought monitoring necessitates long-term and continuous precipitation data. High-resolution satellite measurements provide valuable precipitation information on a quasi-global scale, yet their short record lengths limit their applicability for drought monitoring. Additionally, long-term low-resolution satellite-based gauge-adjusted data sets, such as the Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP), are not available in near real-time for timely drought assessments. This study bridges the gap between low-resolution long-term satellite gauge-adjusted data and emerging high-resolution satellite precipitation data sets to create a comprehensive long-term climate data record for droughts.

To achieve this, a Bayesian correction algorithm is employed to combine GPCP data with real-time satellite precipitation data sets, enhancing drought monitoring and analysis capabilities. The results indicate that the combined data sets, after applying the Bayesian correction, show significant improvements over the uncorrected data. Additionally, this combined approach successfully detected several recent major droughts, including the 2011 Texas drought, the 2010 Amazon drought, and the 2010 Horn of Africa drought. These findings underscore the potential of satellite precipitation data for regional to global drought monitoring.

The final product is a real-time data-driven satellite-based standardized precipitation index (SPI) that can be utilized for drought monitoring, particularly in remote and/or ungauged regions. This innovative approach offers a reliable tool for timely and accurate drought assessments, addressing the limitations of existing data sets.

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