Using indices to study drought variability in the lake victoria basin

This paper analyses indices of the various drought scenarios developed and tested with data available from meteorological stations around Lake Victoria in a study to determine the spatial variability of droughts in the Lake Victoria basin. Palmer’s method was appropriate for describing the drought severity at the shores of the lake. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and palmer’s indices were also used to compare the drought severity in the catchment. Severity maps were developed using GIS software based on both Palmer and NDVI indices, and using a soil map of the catchment, a rainfall map was also developed. These maps clearly depicted that most areas on the shores of Lake Victoria in Kenya were vulnerable to drought.