A multi-index drought risk assessment model was developed to combine the strengths of standard precipitation index at different time steps for drought hazard index and composite drought vulnerability indices in the Tarim River Basin (TRB). The spatialtemporal patterns of drought hazard

drought vulnerability and drought risk are analyzed. The results indicate that: (1) Drought hazard is higher in northern and eastern TRB than other areas at 3 month step. It is high in central and northwestern parts at a 12-month time scale. Drought vulnerability index in northwestern and southwestern TRB is higher than other areas. Moreover

drought vulnerability is the highest in southwestern TRB. The correlation coefficients between drought vulnerability index and percentage of agricultural population

dependency ratio

percentage of agricultural economic loss are higher than other drought vulnerability indices. (2) The vulnerability indices including F

P

I

D

A and I in middle and western TRB are higher than indices in eastern and northern TRB

while F is opposite. (3) Droughts pose the highest risk to the western districts of the TRB

while drought risk is the lowest in northeastern and southeastern TRB.