Remote sensing and GIS to combat drought disaster: an Indian example

Drought is one of the climatic as well as natural disasters common all over the world. Droughts have disastrous impact on the economy and can affect the largest segment of the society. Agriculture may suffer severe set back and large groups of affected population may have to migrate. The metrological causes of drought are usually associated with slow, prevailing, subsidizing motions of air masses from continental source regions. This study aims to prepare the Metrological, Hydrological and Physical drought maps using Survey of India Topo sheets, Satellite Data and Collateral data. It also aims to delineate drought prone areas by integrating meteorological, hydrological and physical drought maps and assigning drought classes. The study will also generate area-wise, percentage-wise and mandal-wise statistics of various drought classes. Action plan for drought management is also suggested in this study.