The Full Picture

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GEO vision of a future wherein decisions and actions for the benefit

of humankind are informed via coordinated, comprehensive and

sustained Earth observations and information.

The centrepiece of the NADM is a group of drought experts and

database specialists from across the continent working together in an

ongoing operational capacity, to carefully compile and analyse

disparate climate observations at multiple scales. This service, which

is produced in English, French and Spanish translations, serves the

needs of user communities within sectors as diverse as agriculture

and forestry, water resource management, energy markets, and health.

Because no single definition of drought is appropriate in all situ-

ations, drought experts developing the NADM product depend on

several key indicators and indices when performing each analysis.

Daily temperature and precipitation data for stations across the US,

Canada, and Mexico are provided by each country on an operational

basis. Monthly temperature and precipitation values are computed

from these daily data and used to generate several drought indices,

including the Standardized Precipitation Index, percent of normal

precipitation, and the Palmer Drought Severity Index. These in situ

indices are combined with satellite-based indices and modelled soil

moisture data to provide a comprehensive and consistent assessment

of moisture conditions across the North American continent, includ-

ing drought transitions across the international borders. These

objective indicators are further combined with input from experts

at the local and regional level from across the continent to provide

NADM drought experts with information on impacts and conditions

which are not available from observations alone.

GEOSS principles and functional components formed the basis

for development of the NADM program. Close coordination among

government leaders and scientists in each country provided the

means for identifying critical gaps in existing programmes and in

establishing methods for addressing deficiencies. Processes were

established to facilitate the open exchange of data and information

across borders, which proved a key element of building

the capacity to monitor drought conditions on an

ongoing basis across the continent. While this effort was

successful in improving the delivery of drought infor-

mation to end users, it also established a precedent for

how nations, when working together within a GEOSS

framework, can turn disparate observing systems and

limited individual resources into an integrated program

to enhance decision making.

The National Integrated Drought Information

System

Within the US, government leaders have recognized the

need to improve the nation’s capacity to manage

drought-related risks, to provide appropriate informa-

tion tools to those affected by drought, and to improve

the nation’s readiness to mitigate the consequences of

drought. To meet these needs, a National Integrated

Drought Information System (NIDIS) is being estab-

lished.

Through NIDIS, a drought early warning system will

be created with the capabilities to provide accurate,

timely and integrated information on drought condi-

tions, at the relevant spatial scale, to facilitate proactive

decisions aimed at minimizing the economic, social and

ecosystem losses associated with drought. The US inter-

governmental leadership and partnerships will be key

to the implementation of an integrated national drought

monitoring and forecasting system, and NIDIS will

support research that focuses on impact mitigation and

improved predictive capabilities.

NIDIS will tie operational and research facets of the

drought issue into an interactive delivery system for

Drought experts rely on numerous objective indicators to determine drought severity levels across the continent

Source: NOAA; SMN; AAFC

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