Post by jeffolie on May 9, 2011 8:14:07 GMT -6
www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html
Why the Drought Monitor?
Tracking drought blends science and art. No single definition of drought works for all circumstances, so people rely on drought indices to detect and measure droughts. But no single index works under all circumstances, either. That's why we need the Drought Monitor, a synthesis of multiple indices and impacts, that represents a consensus of federal and academic scientists. The product will be refined over time as we find ways to make it better reflect the needs of decision-makers and others who use the information.
For more information about the science or impacts of drought, please visit the National Drought Mitigation Center's web site.
Main federal partners:
•Joint Agricultural Weather Facility (U.S. Department of Agriculture and Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
•Climate Prediction Center (U.S. Department of Commerce/NOAA/National Weather Service)
•National Climatic Data Center (DOC/NOAA)
Academic partner:
•National Drought Mitigation Center (University of Nebraska-Lincoln)
Other participants:
•U.S. Geological Survey (U.S. Department of Interior)
•National Water and Climate Center (USDA/Natural Resource Conservation Service)
•Climate Diagnostics Center (DOC/NOAA)
•Regional Climate Centers
•National Weather Service Hydrology (DOC/NOAA)
•State Climatologists
•additional local, state and federal experts
Key audiences:
•National Weather Service
•Farm Service Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture
•state water agencies and other resource management institutions and organizations
•The Weather Channel and other specialized media
•general media and the general public