1 Introduction and Background
Climate change is one of the most persistent threats to global stability in the future
(Devkota et al. 2014). Even currently, the climate change effects have become
widespread with increased intensity and frequency (IPCC 2007, 2012). Natural
disasters and climate-related extreme events are such examples that are expected to
increase as a result of relatively small changes in climate conditions (Adger et al.
2003; Huggel et al. 2015). A rise in these disasters, in turn will have specific effects
of varying degrees on the environment, water resources, coastal zones, agricultural
production, human livelihoods and biodiversity (Pant et al. 2014).
Among the climate-induced natural disasters, drought is one of the most frequently
occurring extreme events with longer time scales and extensive geographical
coverage. Changes in climate conditions such as variation in precipitation patterns
and rising temperature can lead to increased frequency of drought worldwide
(Dai 2013). Drought frequently causes sizeable losses to mankind as well as nature,
especially in less developed countries but at the same time it is considered to be
the most complex phenomenon affecting more people than by any other hazard
(Lei et al. 2014). This is evident from the fact that nearly half of the countries in the
world have suffered from drought over the past several decades (Wu et al. 2015a, b).
IPCC has particularly declared drought as an important global challenge in the wake
of its increasing frequency and severity (IPCC 2012). South Asian countries
including India also face this challenge given highly diverse socioeconomic, geographical and hydrological regimes.
India is faced with immense challenges of climate change including drought. It is
expected that it will face a greater seasonal variation in temperature given its
diverse and changing climatic pattern (Christensen et al. 2007). It is shown that the
country’s temperature would rise to the tune of 0.57 °C per 100 years (Singh et al.
2001). This has started taking its effect while there is already an increase in the
variability of average annual precipitation (Bhadwal 2003) which may lead to many
natural disasters. As a result, recurrent drought has become a common phenomenon
in different regions of the country, caused by a lack or a decreased amount of rain
over a long period of time coupled with increasing amount of temperature (Pai et al.
2011). Subsequently, millions of people have become prone to drought and millions
will be vulnerable to it in the future. This is evident from the fact that droughts have
affected nearly 1061 million people and killed 4.25 million people in India during
1900–2015 (CRED 2015). Drought effects are wide ranging in the country that
have taken their toll by adversely affecting national economy through decline in
agricultural production, rise in rural unemployment, and fall in purchasing power
and household food security (Kumar et al. 2005).
410
A.S. Sam et al.
Climate change is one of the most persistent threats to global stability in the future
(Devkota et al. 2014). Even currently, the climate change effects have become
widespread with increased intensity and frequency (IPCC 2007, 2012). Natural
disasters and climate-related extreme events are such examples that are expected to
increase as a result of relatively small changes in climate conditions (Adger et al.
2003; Huggel et al. 2015). A rise in these disasters, in turn will have specific effects
of varying degrees on the environment, water resources, coastal zones, agricultural
production, human livelihoods and biodiversity (Pant et al. 2014).
Among the climate-induced natural disasters, drought is one of the most frequently
occurring extreme events with longer time scales and extensive geographical
coverage. Changes in climate conditions such as variation in precipitation patterns
and rising temperature can lead to increased frequency of drought worldwide
(Dai 2013). Drought frequently causes sizeable losses to mankind as well as nature,
especially in less developed countries but at the same time it is considered to be
the most complex phenomenon affecting more people than by any other hazard
(Lei et al. 2014). This is evident from the fact that nearly half of the countries in the
world have suffered from drought over the past several decades (Wu et al. 2015a, b).
IPCC has particularly declared drought as an important global challenge in the wake
of its increasing frequency and severity (IPCC 2012). South Asian countries
including India also face this challenge given highly diverse socioeconomic, geographical and hydrological regimes.
India is faced with immense challenges of climate change including drought. It is
expected that it will face a greater seasonal variation in temperature given its
diverse and changing climatic pattern (Christensen et al. 2007). It is shown that the
country’s temperature would rise to the tune of 0.57 °C per 100 years (Singh et al.
2001). This has started taking its effect while there is already an increase in the
variability of average annual precipitation (Bhadwal 2003) which may lead to many
natural disasters. As a result, recurrent drought has become a common phenomenon
in different regions of the country, caused by a lack or a decreased amount of rain
over a long period of time coupled with increasing amount of temperature (Pai et al.
2011). Subsequently, millions of people have become prone to drought and millions
will be vulnerable to it in the future. This is evident from the fact that droughts have
affected nearly 1061 million people and killed 4.25 million people in India during
1900–2015 (CRED 2015). Drought effects are wide ranging in the country that
have taken their toll by adversely affecting national economy through decline in
agricultural production, rise in rural unemployment, and fall in purchasing power
and household food security (Kumar et al. 2005).
410
A.S. Sam et al.