A Geospatial Approach for Assessing and Monitoring the Drought Condition in Chittur Taluk, Palakkad District, Kerala

Abstract

Geo informatics played a vital role to assess and monitor the different types of natural hazards either natural or manmade. Temporal satellite data of two years has been systematically used to monitor drought assessment in Chittur taluk, Palakkad district. Rainfall, Soil moisture, increasing temperature and changes in vegetation are the most important parameters effecting drought. Thus, analysis of vegetation fraction and Moisture Stress Index (MSI) are essential in drought estimation using remote sensing. The digital indices using satellite data namely, Normalized Vegetation Index (NDVI), Vegetation Condition Index (VCI), Rainfall records, Moisture Stress Index (MSI) and Yellowness Vegetation Index (YVI) is very essential to assess the drought in Chittur taluk. The present study on “A Geospatial Approach for Assessment and Monitoring the Drought Condition in Chittur Taluk, Palakkad District, Kerala” has been technically estimated on drought condition in the area. In this study, the drought prone areas in the Chittur taluk were identified by using Remote Sensing and GIS technology and drought risk areas were to delineate by integration of satellite images, meteorological Information. Thus, this drought risk mapping can be useful to guide decision making process in drought monitoring and to reduce the risk of drought on any such kind of economic activities.  

Key Words: Moisture Stress Index (MSI); Normalized Vegetation Index (NDVI); Vegetation Condition Index (VCI); Rainfall records, Yellowness Vegetation Index (YVI); Geospatial Assessment.