Question

While assessing the intensity of agricultural drought, a negative value of aridity index indicates that the area is classified as

• A. severely arid
• B. moderately arid
• C. mildly arid
• D. non-arid

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

The question deals with determining the classification of an area based on the aridity index, which is a key concept in assessing agricultural drought.

The aridity index (AI) is defined as the ratio of precipitation to potential evapotranspiration (PET) over a specific period. It's a measure commonly used to determine the degree of dryness of a location.

The aridity index is calculated as:

\(AI = \frac{P}{PET}\)

where:

• \(P\) is the total precipitation in the area.
• \(PET\) is the potential evapotranspiration.

A negative aridity index indicates that the amount of precipitation is less than the evapotranspiration, suggesting the area does not have a sufficient level of dryness or water deficiency to be classified as arid. Thus, it implies the region is likely experiencing a non-arid condition, meaning there is likely no water deficit sufficient to classify it as arid.

Based on this understanding, the correct classification for an area with a negative aridity index is:

• Non-arid

Explanation of Options:

• Severely Arid, Moderately Arid, Mildly Arid: These options are incorrect because any arid condition (severe, moderate, or mild) would not be indicated by a negative aridity index. In these scenarios, \(AI\) would be positive but less than 1.
• Non-arid: This is the correct answer as discussed. A negative AI implies there is no significant water deficit compared to potential water loss.

Thus, the correct answer is: Non-Arid.