Abstract: Based on the monthly precipitation data from 9 meteorological stations during the period of 1957-2010 and the monthly runoff volume data from 5 main hydrometric stations in the Luanhe River Basin during the period of 1956-2000, in this paper drought in the Luanhe River Basin was discussed, and the results were compared using the precipitation anomaly percentage, standardized precipitation index, precipitation Z index and runoff volume anomaly percentage. The results showed that the drought degree explained with the precipitation anomaly percentage was slighter. Compared with the precipitation Z index, SPI could be used to objectively reflect the drought degree in the drainage basin, and it was more ideal in reflecting the drought degree than the precipitation Z index and precipitation anomaly percentage based on the applicability evaluation results of three meteorological drought indexes. Evaluation results of runoff volume anomaly percentage were consistent with the actual situation and suitable for drought evaluation in the Luanhe River Basin. However, there was a lack of integrity and mechanism of these four drought indexes, and it was necessary to comprehensively consider the factors including precipitation, temperature, evaporation and runoff volume so as to put forward a drought index reflecting the inherent mechanism of drought in the drainage basin.

Key words: precipitation anomaly percentage, standardized precipitation index, precipitation Z index, runoff volume anomaly percentage, drought index, applicability evaluation, Luanhe River Basin