Historical and projected meteorological droughts in the Beninese Niger River Basin, Benin

Droughts are part of extreme meteorological phenomena that generate serious social, economic and environmental consequences. This study seeks to characterize the historical (1976-2019) projected (2021-2050) drought in Niger River Basin Benin. To achieve this, present used daily rainfall observations simulations two regional climate models (RCM) (HIRHAM REMO) from fifteen (15) stations installed around basin. We standardized precipitation indices (SPI) at 12 36 months’ time steps. have a normal distribution, data were transformed according Gamma distribution. The results revealed over period (1976-2019), SPI showed increasing trends with near-normal droughts occurring about 90% other classes 10%. At 12- 36-month scales, there average durations 17 32 months respectively peaks -1.52 -1.12. In future, representative concentration pathway RCM, remain very low (1/1000 per decade) 80 20% for classes. For SPI-12 SPI-36 months, likely mean 19 40 -1.5 -1.6. changes assessment shows decrease increase moderate severe on compared baseline period. Drought also expected smaller peaks. These non-significant Student's test. Key words: Meteorological, drought, index (SPI), Beninese Basin.