Trends and spatiotemporal patterns of meteorological drought incidence in North Wollo, northeastern highlands of Ethiopia

The study was aimed at detecting and characterizing meteorological drought risk areas using remote sensing data in North Wollo, Ethiopia. Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Stations (CHIRPS) rainfall dataset used to compute the Z score index (ZSI) depict droughts during meher season (2000–2019). MOD11A2 from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) image datasets also generate land surface temperature (LST) investigate its association ZSI precipitation. To analyze seasonal annual trends, Mann–Kendall test applied, Sen’s slope estimator fix magnitude of change. result revealed that an increasing trend (0.24–10.7 mm/year) has been observed many districts, while it decreasing (?0.43 ?3.85 kiremt. However, belg (1.64–5.13 mm) bega (0.54–2.8 seasons a slightly which significant p < 0.05 one station for former three stations latter. value confirmed 2002, 2004, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2019 were under deficit extreme events. Nevertheless, 2009 2015 driest years, intensity ?2.01 ?2.84. Based on correlation regression results, showed positive relationship (r = 0.93–0.99) precipitation negative ?0.1 ?0.52) LST. Thus, (at 0.0001) rising In last 20 every district encountered repeatedly (15–18 times), thus, area is categorized as extremely high zone. Such spatiotemporal events have imminent threat rain-fed agricultural activities, imposing immense influence agro-based livelihoods local community. Therefore, demands continuous monitoring application effective early warning systems.