Drought Observatory
CLIMATE SERVICE FOR THE CAMPANIA REGION
Characterizing the phenomenon of drought in the Campania Region is a fundamental operation to achieve sustainable management of the water resource in our territory. By studying appropriate indicators of drought, in fact, there is the possibility to keep under control the trend of the scarcity of the resource and to understand the causes.
It is clear that drought can be induced by many factors, first of all a strong reduction in rainfall and a substantial increase in local average temperatures.
This is where the need arises to build a drought observatory that allows the monitoring of indicators that appropriately describe the phenomenon. In particular, we are talking about the SPI (Standardized Precipitation Index) and SPEI (Standardized Precipitation and Evapotranspiration Index) indices, each of which is based on specific variables, as the name suggests.
By comparing the two indices, it is possible to identify which phenomenon, between the rainfall deficit and the increase in temperature, is most responsible for drought. This is in order to prepare for a possible change in the future, for better management of the water resource and to continue to carry out all activities related to human beings: the production aspect, agriculture, daily water consumption.
Gli obiettivi dell’osservatorio della siccità
If the rainfall deficit is the main cause of the lack of water resources, it will be possible to intervene on the hydraulic infrastructures, with an efficiency of the collection works, the reduction of losses in the distribution networks, the construction of works destined for reuse , as well as on the reduction of consumption and waste.
If temperatures were the cause of the phenomenon, there would be less room for adaptation. We could only intervene on reuse and waste reduction, trying to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle.
The SPI and SPEI indices therefore allow, through a cognitive phase of past scenarios, to make forecasts and better provide for the future, identifying the best strategies for managing the infrastructures and resources present in the area.