Evaluating drought events under influence of El-Nino phenomenon: A case study of Mekong delta area, Vietnam

The spatio-temporal variability of meteorological droughts in the Mekong delta area of Vietnam were analysed to detect drought events using the standardized precipitation index (SPI) at different time scales based on 32-year (1984-2015) monthly rainfall data. The degree and intensity of drought in the years of El Nino phenomenon during the study period were also analysed. The results confirmed that the frequency of drought scales decreased while their spatial distribution tends to increase with main scales including moderate and severe droughts.During the period of study, 1990-1992 drought stage was defined the most extreme drought with 11 out of 13 provinces of the study area experienced the extreme drought as the peak value of SPI12 was -2.63 and the duration of the drought lasted for 29 months.