1. The U.S. Drought Monitor and Beyond
Mark Svoboda, Mike Hayes
National Drought Mitigation Center
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
The most classic example, the monthly NADM which has been around since (Double check the date)
Scoping Workshop for the Upper Colorado Basin NIDIS Pilot
Boulder, CO October 1-2, 2008

2. 1997: WDCC MAP WCWS 1998: NDMC Drought Impact Monitoring product
Evolution………………
1998:
NDMC Drought Impact
Monitoring product

3. 1999:The U.S. Drought Monitor
Since 1999, NOAA (CPC and NCDC), USDA, and the NDMC have produced a weekly composite drought map -- the U.S. Drought Monitor -- with input from numerous federal and non-federal agencies

4. Approaches to Drought Assessment
Single index or Indicator (parameter)
Multiple indices or Indicators
Composite Indicator

5. The Drought Monitor Concept
A partnership between the NDMC, USDA and NOAA’s CPC and NCDC (authors)
Incorporate relevant information and products from all entities (and levels of government) dealing with drought (RCC’s, SC’s, federal/state agencies, etc.) (experts)
The Drought Monitor provides a general up-to-date summary of current drought conditions across the 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Pacific possessions (updated weekly)

6. Original Objectives “Fujita-like” scale NOT a forecast!
NOT a drought declaration!
Identify impacts (A, H)
Assessment of current conditions
Incorporate local expert input
Be as objective as possible

7. The Drought Monitor Concept
A consolidation of indices and indicators into one comprehensive national drought map
Trying to capture these characteristics:
the drought’s magnitude (duration + intensity)
spatial extent
probability of occurrence
Impacts
Rates drought intensity by percentile ranks

8. Drought Intensity Categories
U.S. Drought Monitor Map
Drought Intensity Categories
D0 Abnormally Dry (30%tile)
D1 Drought – Moderate (20%tile)
D2 Drought – Severe (10%tile)
D3 Drought – Extreme (5%tile)
D4 Drought – Exceptional (2%tile)

9. U.S. Drought Monitor Drought Indicators: Integrates Key
- Palmer Drought Index
- SPI
- KBDI
Modeled Soil Moisture
- 7-Day Avg. Streamflow
- Precipitation Anomalies
Growing Season:
- Crop Moisture Index
- Sat. Veg. Health Index
Soil Moisture
Mesonet data
In The West:
- SWSI
- Reservoir levels
Snowpack
Streamflow
Created in ArcGIS

11. But it is also seen with the development of more local information like CoCoRaHS
CoCoRaHS.org

16. Some Examples of Decision Making Using the DM
USDA Dried Milk Program
USDA CRP Release hot spot trigger
Numerous states use as a drought trigger (Governor’s declarations)
USDA Livestock Assistance
IRS (tax deferral on livestock losses)
2008 Farm Bill
NWS Drought Information Statements (DGTs)

17. The third trend is to “drill down” from the USDM’s national, larger scale view to a much more local view.

18. This can be done on the USDM’s website itself…

20. Transition: Because of the tremendous success of the USDM, there are three trends expanding the USDM beyond a national view of drought assessment. One trend has been the desire to use this concept internationally…

21. The most classic example, the monthly NADM which has been around since 2001. (Double check the date)

22. The most classic example, the monthly NADM which has been around since 2001. (Double check the date)

23. And now that the shapefiles for the USDM are available, products that overlay the USDM…

25. Percent of U.S. in USDM Drought Categories (D0-D4)
The second trend is to provide derivative products from the USDM, such as time series. In this case, for the entire country…

26. Percent Area in USDM Drought Categories (D0-D4)
In this case, for three states within the U.S. Corn Belt

27. Finally, where can this information be found?

28. The most classic example, the monthly NADM which has been around since 2001. (Double check the date)

29. River Basin Drought Information
Basin level portlets…