Drought Indicators to Assess Climate Risks in the Cuvelai Transboundary Basin

1. Civil Engineering Department, Hydraulics, Water Resources and Environment Division, Faculty of Engineering, 

University of Porto, Portugal

2. Group of Hydrology and Water Resources, Faculty of Engineering, Agostinho Neto University, Angola

 Abstract: Hydrological droughts are characterized by their duration, severity, and magnitude. Among the most prominent factors, precipitation, transpiration, and runoff are essential in drought modelling. The study area is a transboundary basin shared by Angola and Namibia, named the Cuvelai Basin. In this study, the elaboration of two drought indices was established, namely, the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) which was calculated through the Programming Language Software Python and the Standardized Rainfall Evaporation Index (SPEI) which were calculated through the Global Drought Monitor website. This research aims to compute the drought indicators of the basin in study in order to assess the severe droughts during the 22 years for this specific area. From the analysis, the results indicate that both indices SPI and SPEI exceled on the provision of precise results when assessing the mitigation measures inside the transboundary Cuvelai Basin.

 Key words: Cuvelai, cunene, drought, standardized precipitation index (SPI), standardized rainfall evaporation index (SPEI)