Hydrological Response to Meteorological Droughts in the Guadalquivir River Basin, Southern Iberian Peninsula

Drought is an extreme phenomenon that will likely increase in frequency and severity the current context of climate change. As such, it must be studied to improve decision-making process affected areas. a semi-arid zone, Guadalquivir River basin, located southern Iberian Peninsula, interesting area perform this study. The relationship between meteorological hydrological droughts using drought indices with data from 1980 2012. chosen are Standardized Streamflow Index (SSI) Precipitation Evapotranspiration (SPEI). Their correlations calculated, based on SPEI accumulation periods, these values analyzed principal component analysis find spatial patterns behavior inside basin. This was performed for continuous series also monthly series, account seasonal changes. It has been found types occurs at different time scales depending mainly orography catchment area. Two main were found. Generally, low altitudes small areas, periods shorter indicating system respond rapidly conditions. In mountainous parts longer have stronger influence due effects such as snowmelt.