Assessment of Environmental Stress as Meteorological Drought Due to Rainfall Variability in Jaipur, Rajasthan (India)

Abstract

Rainfall variability with time and space plays a crucial role in agricultural and other planning as drinking water supply. Jaipur, district of Rajasthan state is facing the problem of rainfall variation at monthly, seasonal and annual time scales. The present study covers rainfall and remotely sensed data to analyze the drought intensity and frequency during 1957 to 2012 to find out environmental stress as meteorological drought. Drought intensity is determined by suggested criteria of Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and find out the drought frequency. Monthly rainfall is not good for agricultural activity and more than 60-% months of a calendar year have droughts. Seasonal rainfall is normal but post monsoon season is suffering with frequent drought which is more than 60-%. Annual rainfall is good and cyclic for crop saving and 70-% years have normal rainfall (± 25-% from normal rainfall) and rest of 30-% moderate to severe drought. NDVI is showing the effect of no, mild and severe drought on vegetation. Rainfall data shows that Jaipur witness almost one drought decade and adjacent high rainfall decade. It is expected that this is a heavy rainfall decade and suggested to rain water harvesting to utilize as pre sowing and crop saving irrigation for succeeding Rabi crops.