Drought monitoring

"Drought monitoring involves measuring changes in precipitation, temperature, and surface and groundwater supplies, among other factors. Although some drought events (such as flash drought) can emerge relatively quickly, droughts are typically creeping, slowly emerging disasters that can be monitored over time as they develop. Identifying the types of impacts to which a region is vulnerable is important in selecting drought indicators for a particular drought monitoring and early warning process. A drought early warning system can then initiate actions that mitigate the impacts of drought on a community" (World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and Global Water Partnership (GWP) 2016)

Sources

World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), and Global Water Partnership (GWP). 2016. Handbook of Drought Indicators and Indices. Geneva: Integrated Drought Management Programme (IDMP). https://doi.org/10.1201/9781315265551-12.

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Article

Technologies Spatiales pour la Surveillance et la Gestion de la Sécheresse

Merci à Mussa Kachunga Stanis d'avoir traduit cet article volontairement.

Space technologies for drought monitoring and management

The impacts of climate change are ever more apparent. The frequency and scale of devastation and destruction of weather hazards are on an increasing trend. According to the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report (IPCC, 2021) climate change is intensifying the water cycle. This will cause more intense droughts in many regions. Moreover, water-related extremes impact the quality of life disproportionately strong. Drought accounts for 25% of all losses from weather-related disasters in the United States of America (Hayes et al., 2012).

Real-time drought monitoring from Climate Hazards group Infrared Precipitation with Stations (CHIRPS)

Different parts of world are experiencing extreme hydrological hazards such as droughts, flooding and other related events. Droughts are associated with absence of rainfall occurrence over an extended period. According to the United Nations (2022), the frequency and intensity of drought events in the last two decades has increased by 29%. These figures are expected to increase further in the coming years due to climate change (Gunathilake et al., 2020).

Interview with Harriette Okal, Associate Scientist, Stockholm Environment Institute

How do you professionally relate to water and/or space technologies?

As a hydrologist, I’ve always been fascinated by the potential of space technologies in transforming water resource management. My work integrates satellite-based Earth Observation (EO) data with hydrological modelling, particularly for drought and flood monitoring, and water availability assessments in regions with scarce ground data. EO technologies allow me to capture real-time, high-resolution data, critical for climate resilience, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Interview with Harriette Okal, Associate Scientist, Stockholm Environment Institute

How do you professionally relate to water and/or space technologies?

International Conference on Earth Observation and Geo-spatial Information 2023

The first edition of the IEEE International Conference on Earth Observation and Geo-spatial Information (ICEOGI) 2023 is co-organized by the LTIR Laboratory of the University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene (USTHB), Algiers and the LITIO Laboratory of the University of Oran 1 Ahmed Ben Bella (UORAN1), Oran.

30th Danube Conference 2023

Danube Conferences traditionally are the common connections of the hydrological regional cooperation. These meetings commenced in Budapest in 1961. Since 1975, cooperation has been conducted within the framework of the International Hydrological Programme (IHP) of UNESCO.

EUMETSAT Meteorological Satellite Conference 2023

Over the years, the EUMETSAT user conference has become a key annual event for the meteorological and scientific communities where participants from around the world can meet to share their experience and knowledge during plenary, poster and workshop sessions.

The theme of this year’s annual EUMETSAT conference is “The Evolutionary challenge for EO satellites from technology to exploitation”.

Drought Resilience +10 conference

In 2013, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with a number of UN agencies, international and regional organizations and key national agencies organized the High-Level Meeting on National Drought Policy (HMNDP) in Geneva from 11 to 15 March 2013.

Spatial droughts and floods: understanding, modelling, and prediction

"Spatial droughts and floods: understanding, modelling, and prediction" is part of The Topical Webinar Series hosted by the Core Modelling and Forecasting Team of the Global Water Futures program is a weekly event from May to August. In contrast to thematic webinars, this series highlights science advances from across the globe and aims to spur critical discussions that will improve our understanding and capability in modelling and managing cold-region hydrology.

To register, please email prabin.rokaya@usask.ca.

Project / Mission / Initiative / Community Portal

Alpine Drought Observatory

Droughts are becoming an increasing concern in the Alps and in the lowland areas that receive Alpine water. The Alpine Drought Observatory (ADO) provides a tool for a quick and easy overview of the current drought situation in the Alpine region and past drought situations in the last 6 months as maps and the last 40 years as timeseries.

Sodango

Terefe Hanchiso Sodango

Assistant Professor at Wokite University

Terefe Hanchiso Sodango holds PhD in GIS and Cartography, Masters Degree in Geoinformatics, BSc in Computer Science. He is currently serving as Asst. Professor at Wolkite University, Department of Natural Resource Management, Ethiopia. He has experience of teaching, conducting research and delivering community services for more than 18 years at Haramaya and Wolkite Universities. He taught many courses in GIS & Remote Sensing, Computing & Informatics, and Agricultural streams for more than 12 years (2002-2014) at Haramaya University.

Software/Tool/(Web-)App

JAXA Climate Rainfall Watch

A need to monitor precipitation extremes from space is widely recognized, especially for regions where ground-based observations are limited or unavailable. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has developed the Global Satellite Mapping of Precipitation (GSMaP) in the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission. The JAXA participated in the Space-based Weather and Climate Extremes Monitoring (SWCEM) of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) by providing the GSMaP Near-real-time Rainfall Product.

How do you professionally relate to water and/or space technologies?

How do you professionally relate to water and/or space technologies?

Related Content

Article

Technologies Spatiales pour la Surveillance et la Gestion de la Sécheresse

Technologies Spatiales pour la Surveillance et la Gestion de la Sécheresse

Space technologies for drought monitoring and management

Space technologies for drought monitoring and management

Real-time drought monitoring from Climate Hazards group Infrared Precipitation with Stations (CHIRPS)

Real-time drought monitoring from Climate Hazards group Infrared Precipitation with Stations (CHIRPS)

Interview with Harriette Okal, Associate Scientist, Stockholm Environment Institute

Interview with Harriette Okal, Associate Scientist, Stockholm Environment Institute

Interview with Harriette Okal, Associate Scientist, Stockholm Environment Institute

Interview with Harriette Okal, Associate Scientist, Stockholm Environment Institute

Event

International Conference on Earth Observation and Geo-spatial Information 2023