Assessment of occurrence and frequency of drought by percent normal precipitation index (PNPI) for Dharwad in northern transition zone of Karnataka

Abstract

This study examined Percent Normal Precipitation Index (PNPI) for Dharwad in Northern Transition zone of Karnataka and the rainfall data was collected from 1951 to 2018 (68 years) for Dharwad. Drought is a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, leading to a shortage of water. Nowadays monitoring the drought is a crucial factor for risk management and providing impact assessments to overcome from such drought events. The Assessment of PNPI drought index was analyzed and result shows that Dharwad district have slightly decreasing trends in drought events and from 1951 to 2018 over 68 years it has shown that 9 years are in moderate drought, 19 years are in moderate wet and 40 years are in normal rainfall situation. This indicates effective real time contingency plans need to be formulated for increase in production of crops Dharwad in Northern Transition zone of Karnataka.