Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Ins titute of Fores try, Hetauda Campus, Tribhuvan University, Makwanpur, Nepal.
2 Institute of Fores try, Pokhara Campus, Pokhara, Tribhuvan University, Pokhara, Nepal.
3 College of Natural Resource Management (CNRM), Agriculture and Fores try University, Katari, Nepal.
4 Institute of Fores try, Hetauda Campus, Tribhuvan University, Makwanpur, Nepal.
5 Institute of Forestry, Hetauda Campus and School of Forestry and Natural Resource Management, Institute of Forestry, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Abstract
Drought is often considered a silent disaster, leading to food and water shortages, displacement, and even conflict. Although evidence of ongoing climate change has been observed, limited research is carried out on drought conditions in Gandaki River Basin of Nepal. This study analyzed four indices i.e., Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), Land Surface Temperature (LST) and Normalized Difference Drought Index (NDDI) for January and November between 1991 and 2021 by using Geographic Information System (GIS) and remote sensed data. NDVI showed that dense vegetation decreased by 93.26% and built-up area increased by 96.88% in January compared between 1991 and 2021. Compared between 1991 and 2021, NDWI showed that the high water stressed area increased by 49.5% in January. NDDI showed increased in abnormally drought area in January (164.03%) compared between 1991 and 2021.Both climate change and human activities significantly contributes increasing trend of drought over the 30-year period in Gandaki River Basin. The study suggests exploring the potential of modern tools such as GIS and Remote Sensing for prediction of drought and monitoring its impact on ecosystems and human. This will be beneficial for policy makers for developing the strategy for combating drought and climate change.
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