TITLE:
Satellite-Based Monitoring of Drought Characteristics and Meteorological-Hydrological Drought Propagation in Shijiu Lake, China
AUTHORS:
Shanshan Chen, Jing Li, Yu Yang, Kai Wang, Chenkai Tang, Feiran Luo
KEYWORDS:
Drought Monitoring, Meteorological Drought, Hydrological Drought, Drought Propagation, Water Resources Regulation and Operation
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.14 No.9,
September
21,
2026
ABSTRACT: Objective: In recent years, with ongoing climate change and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, drought disasters have become increasingly prominent. By utilizing existing precipitation observation data from meteorological stations, investigating the propagation patterns between meteorological and hydrological droughts in the Shijiu Lake area can help scientifically formulate hydrological drought response strategies, improve water resource dispatch efficiency within the lake region, and enhance disaster prevention and mitigation capabilities. Methods: This study focuses on Shijiu Lake as the research subject. Based on the Global Surface Water Mapping Layers V1.4 product (hereafter referred to as GSWE), monthly lake water surface areas of Shijiu Lake from 1990 to 2021 were extracted to identify the hydrological drought characteristics within the lake region. Combined with monthly precipitation observation data from the surrounding Lishui China National Basic Meteorological Station (Station ID: 58340) and the Gaochun China National Basic Meteorological Station (Station ID: 58339), the meteorological drought characteristics of the area where the lake is located were identified. An event-based drought propagation analysis method was applied to reveal the lag time of hydrological drought formation following the occurrence of meteorological drought in the Shijiu Lake basin. Conclusion: 1) Between 1990 and 2021, hydrological and meteorological droughts occurred most frequently in winter and spring within the Shijiu Lake area, requiring particular attention. 2) The direct impact of precipitation reduction on lake water surface area in the Shijiu Lake area lasts approximately 3 months, with the most pronounced effect occurring at around 2 months. 3) The average propagation time from meteorological to hydrological drought in this region is 1.6 months. When it is predicted that meteorological drought of moderate intensity or above (SPI