Utilization of reconnaissance drought index (RDI) for monitoring of meteorological drought over middle Euphrates region during the period from 1988 to 2017

This study was conducted to monitor of meteorological drought over middle Euphrates region based on Reconnaissance Drought Index (RDI) during the period from 1988 to 2017.Average monthly of rainfall, temperature and sunshine hours data were used to calculate this Index. These data were acquired from Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology at known five stations called Hilla, Diwaniya, Karbala, Semawa, and Najaf. The final results illustrated that the highest frequencies of drought, higher values of drought magnitude and intensity are recorded in the Hilla and Karbala stations followed by Najaf, Diwaniyah and Semawa stations respectively. Drought values ranged from moderate to severe in all stations of the study area. There is a high correlation between magnitude and intensity of drought in the study area. There are variations of drought over years between stations because of the difference of climate conditions for each station in the study area.