Spatial Analysis of Reconnaissance Drought Index(RDI) in Central Iran (Case Study: Yazd Province)

Several indicators have been proposed by researchers for the study of drought, each of which having certain strengths and drawbacks depending on the regional conditions and parameters affecting drought. In recent years, RDI has received greater attention as it accounts for precipitation and evapotranspiration, and is sometimes used as the basis for comparison of drought severity and the assessment of its potential damage at the national level. The present research examines RDI index along with benefits, drawbacks and problems of zoning and generalization of findings at the national level to provinces. For this purpose, the statistics derived from synoptic stations of Yazd province was utilized and after calculating RDI for each station, a comparison was drawn with the results presented in the national RDI map for the same time period. The results of this study provide technical points and considerations for calculating and zoning RDI at the national scale and generalizing findings to provincial levels, with special emphasis on Yazd province. It also offers relevant executive suggestions for improving the precision of drought zonation studies and methods across the country, which have been discussed in details