Historical drought and its trend in South Asia: Spatial and temporal analysis 2000-2020

Every year, South Asian countries suffer from declining agricultural outputs due to climate extremes such as floods and droughts. Recurrent droughts have depressed rural economies enhanced widespread hunger human migration cities (Miyan, 2015). Due climatic changes, the region is projected experience rising temperatures more frequent extreme weather events in long term (Trenberth et al., 2014). Accurate predictions of drought, its impact, early detection facilities are not present most a lack sufficient hydro-meteorological datasets, poor access satellite products, shortages well-trained staff. This study seeks address these deficiencies scientifically by analysing historical drought conditions on regional scale using open-access products. The Drought Severity Index (DSI) has been employed assess meteorological 2000 2020 prepare severity maps for region. Results DSI were further compared with Standardised Precipitation (SPI) Nepal Bangladesh. results identified pre-monsoon months driest period experiencing severe moderate drought.