Rainfall and drought tendencies in Rajshahi division, Bangladesh

Abstract

Insufficient rainfall results in water shortage and eventually leads to drought. This research has investigated drought by utilizing standardize precipitation index in monthly mean rainfall data for 30 years from 1988 to 2017 in Rajshahi division, a region in the northwestern part of Bangladesh. Estimated indices have identified that the years 1992, 1994, 2006, and 2012 experienced moderate to severe droughts, and the year 2010 suffered from extreme drought. Non-parametric and linear trend analyses have shown that the number of draughts in the study area has been growing. The study area is thus judged as moving forward to experience more droughts from lack of water due to rainfall deficit, especially during monsoon. This region has already started to experience a shortage of rainwater, approximately 18%, in the monsoon season. This shortage is likely to affect the volume of surface water and thus the groundwater recharging, which would distort irrigation for agriculture in the region. This work would therefore assist in policy-making addressing the watering system of the region to ensure smooth agricultural production.