Abstract:

Based on Comprehensive Meteorological Drought Index (CI),the metrorological data of 71 observation stations from 1960 to 2011 were used to analyze the characteristics of droughts in Hubei province.It was found that the droughts occurred nearly onethird year in northwestern part with a slight seasonal difference,which was the droughtprone area in Hubei.The droughts occurred in middle and eastern part relatively fewer,which was the typical area of seasonal drought with an intensive period from July to October.The moderate and above drought occurred every year,and severe drought occurred once per 25 years,in which severe drought occurred once per 2 years in northwestern part.Severest drought occurred once per 6-7 years in Hubei province,and 70% occurred during midsummer to autumn with a frequency of once per 5 years in northwestern part.Under the background of global climate change,the occurrence of  universality drought in Hubei province increased slightly,but the  severe drought changed a little.In the space distribution,the occurrence of severe drought increased in northwestern part but decreased in middle and eastern part in recent 20 years.And the universality drought in middle and eastern increased slightly.The moderate drought increased obviously in middle eastern part in recent 20 years,which occurred mainly during the period from July to October.But the occurrence of severe drought showed a decreasing trend and it increased in northwest part which occurred intensively from November to next February and March to June