• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.87-97
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• 2024

This study analyzed the water shortage hotspot areas in South Korea using spatial clustering analysis for water shortage estimates in 2030 of the Master Plans for National Water Management. To identify the water shortage cluster areas, we used water shortage data from the past maximum drought (about 50-year return period) and performed spatial clustering analysis using Local Moran's I and Getis-Ord Gi*. The areas subject to spatial clusters of water shortage were selected using the cluster map, and the spatial characteristics of water shortage areas were verified based on the p-value and the Moran scatter plot. The results indicated that one cluster (lower Imjin River (#1023) and neighbor) in the Han River basin and two clusters (Daejeongcheon (#2403) and neighbor, Gahwacheon (#2501) and neighbor) in the Nakdong River basin were found to be the hotspot for water shortage, whereas one cluster (lower Namhan River (#1007) and neighbor) in the Han River Basin and one cluster (Byeongseongcheon (#2006) and neighbor) in the Nakdong River basin were found to be the HL area, which means the specific area have high water shortage and neighbor have low water shortage. When analyzing spatial clustering by standard watershed unit, the entire spatial clustering area satisfied 100% of the statistical criteria leading to statistically significant results. The overall results indicated that spatial clustering analysis performed using standard watersheds can resolve the variable spatial unit problem to some extent, which results in the relatively increased accuracy of spatial analysis.