Spatio-temporal characteristics and multivariate recurrence period of agricultural drought in Northwestern China

Abstract Agricultural drought poses significant challenges to food production and ecosystem sustainability. The evolution of drought and its recurrence period feature are important for drought mitigation and risk management. This study aims to evaluate agricultural drought using the Standardized Soi...

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Main Authors: Kai Feng, Shile Wang, Yingying Wang, Yanbin Li, Tianliang Jiang, Shengzhi Huang, Fei Wang, Xiaoling Su, Zezhong Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04473-8
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author Kai Feng
Shile Wang
Yingying Wang
Yanbin Li
Tianliang Jiang
Shengzhi Huang
Fei Wang
Xiaoling Su
Zezhong Zhang
author_facet Kai Feng
Shile Wang
Yingying Wang
Yanbin Li
Tianliang Jiang
Shengzhi Huang
Fei Wang
Xiaoling Su
Zezhong Zhang
author_sort Kai Feng
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Agricultural drought poses significant challenges to food production and ecosystem sustainability. The evolution of drought and its recurrence period feature are important for drought mitigation and risk management. This study aims to evaluate agricultural drought using the Standardized Soil Moisture Index (SSMI) based on Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS) products, and extract drought variables using a three-dimensional identification method in Northwestern China. Then, the spatiotemporal dynamics and recurrence characteristics of agricultural droughts were evaluated. The results showed that: (1) Study area experienced alternating phases of dry and wet, with intensification in the 1960s and 1990s, and significant humidification post-2000. All four seasons show a wetting trend, while spring exhibited notable humidification trends. (2) Drought intensity and frequency displayed regional variability, agricultural drought in the west part of the study area were high in frequency but low in intensity, while the opposite was true in the east. (3) Agricultural drought exhibited cyclical behavior with dominant periods of 3.5, 6.6, and 13.5 years, reflecting interannual and interdecadal fluctuations. (4) Multivariate joint recurrence periods highlighted significant correlations among drought characteristics, emphasizing the risk of underestimation when considering single variables. These results offer valuable insights for water resources allocation and drought mitigation.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2045-2322
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spelling doaj-art-c9df9add601f429db6fa8e682324efaf2025-08-20T03:38:16ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115112410.1038/s41598-025-04473-8Spatio-temporal characteristics and multivariate recurrence period of agricultural drought in Northwestern ChinaKai Feng0Shile Wang1Yingying Wang2Yanbin Li3Tianliang Jiang4Shengzhi Huang5Fei Wang6Xiaoling Su7Zezhong Zhang8College of Water Conservancy, North China University of Water Resources and Electric PowerCollege of Water Conservancy, North China University of Water Resources and Electric PowerCollege of Water Conservancy, North China University of Water Resources and Electric PowerCollege of Water Conservancy, North China University of Water Resources and Electric PowerInstitute of Water Resources and Hydropower ResearchCollege of Water Conservancy, North China University of Water Resources and Electric PowerCollege of Water Conservancy, North China University of Water Resources and Electric PowerCollege of Water Resources and Architectural Engineering, Northwest A & F UniversityCollege of Water Conservancy, North China University of Water Resources and Electric PowerAbstract Agricultural drought poses significant challenges to food production and ecosystem sustainability. The evolution of drought and its recurrence period feature are important for drought mitigation and risk management. This study aims to evaluate agricultural drought using the Standardized Soil Moisture Index (SSMI) based on Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS) products, and extract drought variables using a three-dimensional identification method in Northwestern China. Then, the spatiotemporal dynamics and recurrence characteristics of agricultural droughts were evaluated. The results showed that: (1) Study area experienced alternating phases of dry and wet, with intensification in the 1960s and 1990s, and significant humidification post-2000. All four seasons show a wetting trend, while spring exhibited notable humidification trends. (2) Drought intensity and frequency displayed regional variability, agricultural drought in the west part of the study area were high in frequency but low in intensity, while the opposite was true in the east. (3) Agricultural drought exhibited cyclical behavior with dominant periods of 3.5, 6.6, and 13.5 years, reflecting interannual and interdecadal fluctuations. (4) Multivariate joint recurrence periods highlighted significant correlations among drought characteristics, emphasizing the risk of underestimation when considering single variables. These results offer valuable insights for water resources allocation and drought mitigation.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04473-8Agricultural droughtStandardized soil moisture index (SSMI)3D clustering methodCopula functionRecurrence period
spellingShingle Kai Feng
Shile Wang
Yingying Wang
Yanbin Li
Tianliang Jiang
Shengzhi Huang
Fei Wang
Xiaoling Su
Zezhong Zhang
Spatio-temporal characteristics and multivariate recurrence period of agricultural drought in Northwestern China
Scientific Reports
Agricultural drought
Standardized soil moisture index (SSMI)
3D clustering method
Copula function
Recurrence period
title Spatio-temporal characteristics and multivariate recurrence period of agricultural drought in Northwestern China
title_full Spatio-temporal characteristics and multivariate recurrence period of agricultural drought in Northwestern China
title_fullStr Spatio-temporal characteristics and multivariate recurrence period of agricultural drought in Northwestern China
title_full_unstemmed Spatio-temporal characteristics and multivariate recurrence period of agricultural drought in Northwestern China
title_short Spatio-temporal characteristics and multivariate recurrence period of agricultural drought in Northwestern China
title_sort spatio temporal characteristics and multivariate recurrence period of agricultural drought in northwestern china
topic Agricultural drought
Standardized soil moisture index (SSMI)
3D clustering method
Copula function
Recurrence period
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04473-8
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