Benchmarking meteorological drought exposure across Peru using the NIFT index

This study benchmarks meteorological drought exposure across Peru using the NIFT (number/intensity/frequency/trend) index and high-resolution precipitation data from the PISCO v. 2.1 dataset for 1981–2016. Ten parameters derived from the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) at four accumulation periods (SPI-1, SPI-3, SPI-6, and SPI-12) are used to systematically compare drought characteristics across regions and time scales. The results reveal strong spatial contrasts in drought exposure, with the southern Andes and southern Amazon lowlands emerging as the most vulnerable areas, characterized by frequent, severe, and prolonged droughts. In contrast, the northern Amazon and coastal regions exhibit lower relative exposure, associated with persistently humid and stable arid conditions, respectively. Temporal analyses indicate an increasing concentration of extreme drought events in recent decades, particularly in the Andes and Amazon. By integrating multiple drought attributes, the NIFT framework provides a consistent basis for inter-regional benchmarking and supports drought monitoring, water resources management, and climate adaptation in Peru.