Capabilities of Satellite-Derived Datasets to Detect Consecutive Indian Monsoon Droughts of 2014 and 2015

India received anomalously deficit southwest monsoon rainfall during 2014 and 2015, which resulted in consecutive droughts across the country. Reliable detection and monitoring of droughts are crucial for the reduction in drought vulnerability and associated socio-economic impacts. In this study, the potential of multiple high-resolution satellite datasets is examined using distinct drought indices over India for these two successive monsoon seasons. The satellite-derived precipitation, soil moisture and land surface temperature estimates are capable of depicting the anomalous drought conditions with some exceptions. A non-parametric multivariate standardized drought index, based on precipitation and soil moisture estimates is proven to be better in the detection of droughts when compared to conventional standardized drought indices. Overall, remote sensing satellite datasets provide immense opportunity to detect and monitor different kinds of droughts using a composite of indices. However, limited temporal records of these high-resolution satellite datasets restrain their applicability from the climatological perspective.