Research suggested incorporating long-term drought diagnostics alongside global climate indicators to enhance early warning systems and inform customized policy measures
OdishaPlus Bureau
A recent study has revealed that climate change has caused drought hotspots in Odisha to shift westward and northward, with certain periods experiencing more intense but shorter impacts.
In the early 20th century, these hotspots were primarily located in the eastern and southern districts of the state. The global research, conducted by 12 institutes and organizations, including six universities from India, the UK, Japan, Brazil, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, as well as meteorological departments, has shown that the westward movement of drought hotspots—from coastal and central Odisha in the early 20th century to the northern and western regions in recent decades—has been driven by a combination of changing monsoon patterns, climate variability, and localized land-use changes.
The research examined 120 years of rainfall records, indicating that Odisha has faced significant droughts roughly every eight years since 1866, with recurring effects observed nearly every year in various areas. In the 1970s and 1980s, central and northern districts, including Angul, Boudh, Deogarh, Keonjhar, Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Bargarh, and Mayurbhanj, experienced a marked rise in severe drought occurrences.
“In subsequent decades, especially during the 1990s and 2000s, southern districts such as Nabarangpur, Koraput, Kalahandi, and Nuapada were more severely impacted. This change seems to be closely associated with positive phases of El Niño and negative phases of the Southern Oscillation Index, both of which interfere with monsoon rainfall in the area,” stated Prof. Shreerup Goswami, head of the Geology department at Utkal University.
The 1960s and 2000s were notable for their extreme drought intensity and frequency. Sundargarh district became a significant drought hotspot during the period from 2001 to 2010. The severity of droughts escalated further in the decade from 2011 to 2020, spreading throughout the western, northern, and central regions, primarily due to the impact of consecutive El Niño events.
The research suggested incorporating long-term drought diagnostics alongside global climate indicators to enhance early warning systems and inform customized policy measures.
“Droughts are no longer limited to a few traditional districts. As climate variability intensifies, historical trends are no longer reliable indicators of future risks. It is essential to reevaluate our strategies for drought resilience, and this study offers a scientific basis for more effective and expansive planning,” stated Prof Manoranjan Mishra from FM University.
