Variability in rainfall and vegetation density as a response to ENSO events: A case study in Venna river basin of central India

Abstract

Remote sensing and satellite images have been used to explore the response of rainfall and vegetation density in Venna river basin of Maharashtra, India to ENSO events selected based on the Oceanic Niño Index (ONI). Mean rainfall of different ENSO and normal events during 2000-2013 and anomaly maps of rainfall was generated.Study revealed that El Niño events introduced drier conditions while LaNiña caused wetter conditions. Change in vegetation studied for crop and non-crop seasons using MODIS NDVI data indicated that the year to year variability of rainfall and vegetation coincides with ENSO events.