Drought and Soil Moisture Index in Tahama Plain in the Jazan Region, KSA: A study in Applied Climate in the Period 1970-2007

Abstract

The study aimed to address the drought index in Tahama Plain in Jazan Region,  KSA, the soil moisture to know the effect of drought, as a climatic phenomenon, on soil and the possibility of exploiting it, the pattern of agriculture and irrigation, and the most important problems facing soil based on the prevailing climatic variables. The study was structured in five areas: site and general merits of the area under study, annual and monthly changes in the total amount of rain, temperature, evaporation, and soil of the study area. Then, an analysis and spatial variation of the drought index and its relationship with soil exploitation between plain sites was used in this study. In addition, the climate data of five meteorological stations during different climatic periods: 1970-1995, and  1996-2007, i.e.,  the whole period was from 19970 – 2007; and the study used the data of presidency of meteorology, Ministry of Agriculture and Water, the general administration of rural affairs in Jazan, and the exploratory field study. Finally, the study introduced a number of findings and recommendations to reduce risks of drought on soil and various development areas in the study area.