Analysis of Flash Drought Occurrence Characteristics in Gangwon Region Considering Meteorological Factors

In recent years, global temperature increases due to climate change have caused short-term flash droughts because of hydrological moisture shortages, and their frequency and intensity are increasing. Flash droughts cause serious damage to agriculture, water resources, and socioeconomics; however, clear definitions and monitoring systems are lacking. Systematic disaster prevention and reduction technologies for flash droughts are required in regions such as Korea, where summer rainfall concentrations and high temperatures are repeated. This study analyzed the occurrence characteristics of flash droughts and general droughts using the SPEI from 2015 to 2024 at 11 Automated Synoptic Observing System (ASOS) in the Gangwon-do region. In this region, 39 flash droughts and 96 general droughts occurred over a 10-year period, and approximately 41% of all droughts were classified as flash droughts. We analyzed the occurrence characteristics of sudden drought and general drought, and found a high correlation (r = 0.82) between the two types of drought, thus confirming that they are not independent but structurally linked. Additionally, sudden droughts in the Gangwon-do region were found to occur relatively more in the inland areas than in the coastal areas based in the Taebaek Mountains. The analysis results suggest that sudden droughts occur due to complex factors, such as meteorological, evapotranspiration conditions, and topographical characteristics.