TY  - JOUR
A1  - Mtilatila, Lucy Mphatso Ng'ombe
A1  - Bronstert, Axel
A1  - Bürger, Gerd
A1  - Vormoor, Klaus Josef
T1  - Meteorological and hydrological drought assessment in Lake Malawi and Shire River basins (1970-2013)
JF  - Hydrological sciences journal = Journal des sciences hydrologiques
N2  - The study assesses the variability and trends of both meteorological and hydrological droughts from 1970 to 2013 in Lake Malawi and Shire River basins using the standardized precipitation index (SPI) and standardized precipitation and evaporation index (SPEI) for meteorological droughts and the lake level change index (LLCI) for hydrological droughts. Trends and slopes in droughts and drought drivers are estimated using Mann-Kendall test and Sen's slope, respectively. Results suggest that meteorological droughts are increasing due to a decrease in precipitation which is exacerbated by an increase in temperature (potential evapotranspiration). The hydrological system of Lake Malawi seems to have a >24-month memory towards meteorological conditions, since the 36-month SPEI can predict hydrological droughts 10 months in advance. The study has found the critical lake level that would trigger hydrological drought to be 474.1 m a.s.l. The increase in drought is a concern as this will have serious impacts on water resources and hydropower supply in Malawi.
KW  - Lake Malawi basin
KW  - Shire River basin
KW  - meteorological drought
KW  - hydrological drought
KW  - SPEI
KW  - SPI
KW  - trend analysis
Y1  - 2020
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1080/02626667.2020.1837384
SN  - 0262-6667
SN  - 2150-3435
VL  - 65
IS  - 16
SP  - 2750
EP  - 2764
PB  - Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group
CY  - Abingdon
ER  -