Giri et al. (2026) Assessment of Drought Dynamics in Odisha, India Using SPI and VHI

Identification

• Journal: Lecture notes in civil engineering
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-01-01
• Authors: Sutaapa Giri, Jyotiprakash Padhi, Bitanjaya Das
• DOI: 10.1007/978-981-95-1726-8_15

Research Groups

School of Civil Engineering, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India

Short Summary

This study assesses the spatial and temporal dynamics of drought in Odisha, India, using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and Vegetation Health Index (VHI) to understand drought patterns and their impact on vegetation health. It reveals significant spatio-temporal variability in drought occurrences across the region and a strong positive correlation between precipitation and vegetation health.

Objective

• To investigate the spatial and temporal drought patterns in Odisha, India, using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and Vegetation Health Index (VHI).

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Regional scale, focusing on Odisha, India, including specific administrative districts (e.g., Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur, Sonepur).
• Temporal Scale: 19 years, from 2003 to 2021, utilizing daily rainfall data for analysis, and examining monthly and annual drought variations.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), Vegetation Health Index (VHI).
• Data sources: Daily rainfall data, MODIS satellite images.

Main Results

• Drought events in Odisha exhibited significant spatio-temporal variability, not being uniformly distributed across the region.
• Districts such as Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, and Jajpur experienced a higher frequency of droughts, while Jagatsinghpur and Sonepur witnessed fewer occurrences.
• June and July were identified as months more prone to drought, with September generally experiencing fewer occurrences, though a severe drought in September 2021 highlighted event unpredictability.
• Annual drought severity varied considerably, with widespread conditions in 2003, 2005, and 2007, and relatively drought-free years in 2004, 2006, and 2020.
• A strong positive correlation was found between SPI and VHI, indicating that changes in precipitation are closely linked to changes in vegetation health.
• High R² values between SPI and VHI validated the use of satellite-derived VHI as a reliable indicator of drought conditions.

Contributions

• Provides a detailed spatio-temporal assessment of drought dynamics in Odisha, India, using a combined approach of meteorological (SPI) and vegetation-based (VHI) indices.
• Validates the effectiveness of satellite-derived VHI as a reliable drought indicator in the region through its strong correlation with SPI.
• Identifies specific districts and months within Odisha that are more vulnerable to drought, offering critical insights for targeted management strategies.
• Underscores the necessity for comprehensive drought management plans, early warning systems, integrated water resource management, and climate change adaptation measures to mitigate drought impacts in Odisha.

Funding

Not explicitly mentioned in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Giri2026Assessment,
  author = {Giri, Sutaapa and Padhi, Jyotiprakash and Das, Bitanjaya},
  title = {Assessment of Drought Dynamics in Odisha, India Using SPI and VHI},
  journal = {Lecture notes in civil engineering},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1007/978-981-95-1726-8_15},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-95-1726-8_15}
}