Format: Journal Article
Year: 2013
Authors: Lu Liu, Yang Hong, Jonathan Looper, Rachel Riley, Bin Yong, Zengxin Zhang, James Hocker, Mark Shafer
Affiliate Organizations: University of Oklahoma, Hohai University, Nanjing Forestry University
Past and future drought scenarios were evaluated for the Arkansas Red River Basin using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI). Both SPI and PDSI correctly identified major historical droughts and both project that more frequent and severe droughts will appear in the second part of the 21st century under both middle- and higher-emissions scenarios. Future PDSI projects that more severe droughts will occur in the western parts of the basin.