Abstract

NUNEZ-LOPEZ, Daniel et al. Characterization of drought at different time scales in Chihuahua, México. Agrociencia [online]. 2007, vol.41, n.3, pp.253-262. ISSN 2521-9766.

In this paper analyzes the principal characteristics of droughts that occur in the most representative climatic regions of the state of Chihuahua are analyzed. Assessment of drought was based on the calculation of the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) at time scales of three, six and twelve months: SPI-3, SPI-6 and SPI-12. Frequency, duration and intensity of drought events between 1970 and 2004 were obtained for each climatic region and time scale. Drought conditions predominated during 23 to 31% of the time analyzed at the three time scales in different periods in each climatic region. The drought events identified in historical series of SPE-3 were of high frequency and short duration, while in the series of six and twelve months they were less recurrent, but longer. The most outstanding drought events for their intensity and duration occurred from mid-to late 1990, when agriculture, incidence of forest fires, and the State’s most important water reservoirs were negatively affected.

Keywords : Drought; SPI; precipitation deficit; water scarcity.

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