Multi-scale Analysis for Different Type of Drought in Temperate Climatic Conditions

Drought, through its various forms of occurrence, as well as spatial and temporal manifestation, imprints a series of changes in all natural components. Therefore, the analysis of this phenomenon must be performed at a multi-scalar level, by evaluating its manifestations both in the atmospheric environment (meteorological drought) and also in the hydric or geological one (hydrological and hydrogeological drought). To that end, a series of standardized evaluation indices, such as SPI, SPEI, SDI and SGI, can be used to evaluate meteorological, hydrological and hydrogeological drought respectively. These indices have been applied for evaluating drought phenomena in the North-Eastern region of Romania, for 1, 3, 6 and 12 months' time- scales. The results of the analysis highlight the occurrence of quite frequent meteorological drought in the last two decades, with excessive manifestations in the years 2000, 2007, 2012, 2017 and 2020. This was accompanied by sequences of hydrological and hydrogeological drought that practically complete a rather gloomy scenario regarding the decline of water resources in this region. In the wider context of regional climate scenarios, which predict an increase in air temperature and, at the same time, a decrease in atmospheric hydrological input, it is clear that the increase in the frequency and duration of different types of drought will have major implications for all natural components and anthropogenic activity in the region.