MS Science-Climate Change: Droughts & Flooding

• NOAA's National Hurricane Center
• NOAA's Storm Prediction Center
• NOAA's Tsunami Warning System

• USGS's Current Flood Information

https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap.aspx

The Drought Monitor map identifies areas of drought and labels them by intensity. D1 is the least intense level and D4 the most intense. Drought is defined as a moisture deficit bad enough to have social, environmental or economic effects

D0 areas are not in drought, but are experiencing abnormally dry conditions that could turn into drought or are recovering from drought but are not yet back to normal.

We indicate whether primary physical effects are for short- or long-term drought:

• S = Short-Term, typically less than 6 months (e.g. agriculture, grasslands)
• L = Long-Term, typically more than 6 months (e.g. hydrology, ecology)

Drought intensity categories are based on:

• the original five key indicators along with several dozen other objective indicators
• local condition reports and impact reports from more than 450 expert observers around the country
• drought impacts which subjectively support and validate the indicators used

• NWS's Drought Information

• NIDIS's Drought Portal

To help with drought classification and monitoring, scientists have defined several types of drought:

Meteorological Drought: When dry weather patterns dominate an area.

Hydrological Drought: When low water supply becomes evident in the water system.

Agricultural Drought: When crops become affected by drought.

Socioeconomic Drought: When the supply and demand of various commodities is affected by drought.

Ecological Drought: When natural ecosystems are affected by drought.