Spatial and Temporal Assessment of Drought Hazard, Vulnerability and Risk in Three Different Climatic Zones in Algeria Using Two Commonly Used Meteorological Indices

Nadjib Haied (), Atif Foufou, Samira Khadri, Adel Boussaid, Mohamed Azlaoui and Nabil Bougherira
Additional contact information
Nadjib Haied: Earth and Universe Sciences Department, ZianeAchour University of Djelfa, P.O. Box 3117, Djelfa 17000, Algeria
Atif Foufou: Laboratory of Underground Oil, Gas and Aquifer Reservoirs, Earth and Universe Sciences Department, Kasdi Merbah Ouargla University, P.O. Box 511, Ouargla 30000, Algeria
Samira Khadri: Biological Sciences Department, Ziane Achour University of Djelfa, P.O. Box 3117, Djelfa 17000, Algeria
Adel Boussaid: Earth and Universe Sciences Department, ZianeAchour University of Djelfa, P.O. Box 3117, Djelfa 17000, Algeria
Mohamed Azlaoui: Department of Hydraulic, ZianeAchour University of Djelfa, P.O. Box 3117, Djelfa 17000, Algeria
Nabil Bougherira: Water Resources and Sustainable Development Laboratory, Geology Department, Badji Mokhtar-Annaba University, P.O. Box 12, Annaba 23000, Algeria

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 10, 1-25

Abstract: Drought is considered a natural hazard and has become a recurrent phenomenon in Algeria since the 1970s. Algeria is characterized by three different climates, namely, sub-humid, semi-arid and arid climates. In this study, we aimed to spatiotemporally assess drought hazard, vulnerability and risk in the three climates of three sub-basins, namely, the Seybouse Maritime, Wadi Djelfa-Hadjia and Wadi M’Zi sub-basins. To this end, the standardized precipitation index (SPI) and the reconnaissance drought index (RDI) were used to evaluate drought physical characteristics on a 12-month timescale, based on precipitation and temperature monthly data covering the period of 1979–2019. High values of the coefficient of determination ( R 2 ) (0.76–0.99) confirmed by low values of the root-mean-square error (RMSE) (0.08–0.49) proved that the drought indices displayed a high correlation. Drought hazard and vulnerability were evaluated based on physical characteristics and socioeconomic aspects, respectively. The results led to the determination of a high correlation between the two indices used; the determination of the main drought events; and the mapping of the drought hazard, vulnerability and risk using a geographic information system (GIS). These findings suggest that the SPI provided the highest intensities, while the longest periods and the strongest magnitudes were given by the RDI. The spatiotemporal drought distributions varied with time from station to station and from sub-basin to sub-basin. Risk maps revealed that vulnerability based on socioeconomic factors controls drought risk.

Keywords: drought; Algeria; Seybouse Maritime sub-basin; Wadi Djelfa-Hadjia sub-basin; Wadi M’ZI sub-basin; SPI; RDI; drought hazard; drought vulnerability; drought risk (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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