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Drought: Science, monitoring, and early warning. Roger S. Pulwarty National Integrated Drought Information System Climate and Societal Interactions Division NOAA State and Tribal Partners, Municipalities Dept. Interior, USDA, USACE, State Climatologists, NDMC.
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Drought: Science, monitoring, and early warning Roger S. Pulwarty National Integrated Drought Information System Climate and Societal Interactions Division NOAA State and Tribal Partners, Municipalities Dept. Interior, USDA, USACE, State Climatologists, NDMC
Drought: a weather-climate continuum 30DAYS 1SEASON Heat Waves Floods Storm Track Variations Madden-Julian Oscillation El Niño-Southern Oscillation++++++ Decadal Variability Solar Variability Deep Ocean Circulation Greenhouse Gases 3YEARS 10YEARS 30YEARS 100YEARS SHORT-TERM INTERANNUAL DECADE-TO-CENTURY 2
NIDIS Act (Public Law 109-430, 2006) “Enable the Nation to move from a reactive to a more proactive approach to managing drought risks and impacts” Provide effective drought early warning system(s): key indicators of drought severity and impacts; timely information that reflect local, regional, and State differences; Coordinate and integrate as practicable, Federal research in support of a drought early warning system Build upon existing forecasting and assessment programs and partnerships
NIDIS Partnerships (Federal, States, Tribes, Private) Drought ImpactsAssessments and Scenarios Monitoring & Forecasting Drought Early Warning Information Systems Engaging Preparedness & Adaptation Communication and Outreach
Monitoring and Forecasts Global monitoring-Understanding how decadal variability (PDO, AMO) in different ocean basins impact year to year droughts-influences forecast reliability on seasonal to interranual timescales Improved satellite estimates and in situ measurements of soil moisture and developing a coordinated soil moisture network Estimates of Ground water/surface water interactions during drought especially affecting streamflow and river forecasts Ongoing assessment of the underlying predictability of surface temperature, precipitation, soil moisture, and streamflow affected by climate, land-use and demands on monthly to decadal time scales Analysis of significant past events
Informing Decisions National Governors Association Meeting 24-27 February, 2013: “making sure science is on the table when decisions are made”(J. Lubchenco) September 2013
Drought differs from other natural hazards • slow onset, “creeping phenomenon”, a non-event difficult to determine drought onset and end- absence of a precise, universal definition • impacts are nonstructural and spread over large areas—makes assessment and response difficult- defined by multiple indicators • impacts are complex, affect many people, and vary on spatial and temporal timescales, multiple and migrating epicenters- no consistent methodology for assessing impacts or data base for archiving impacts • water shortages increase conflict—regulatory, • legal authority (interstate and transboundary issues) “ A persistent abnormal moisture deficiency having adverse impacts on vegetation, animals, and people.”and…… more……
Climate risk management-governance Accountability-CRM needs to be located with planning oversight and some fiscal responsibility-provide political authority and policy coherence across sectors. Emergency management organizations can rarely play that role Efficiency-only occurs when CRM is carried out in partnership with at-risk sectors and communities and organizations that represent them. Benefits are cost-effectiveness, sustainability, citizenship and social cohesion.
Key questions-improving the linkages between information and decision-making (ICSU others): • What is the quality of information available to decision-makers at all levels? • What factors influence whether or not such information will be used? • What factors influence whether risk communications are trusted? • What governance structures may facilitate better decision-making practice? • How can decision-making systems be adapted to the different levels of decision makers?
Where do science and decision-making speak to each other? Monitoring & Research Innovation Evaluation Learning
Partnership-a collaborative framework between research and management Knowledge development and management Capacity and coordination Product and delivery systems Network development and sustainability Identify local entrepreneurs/leadership Make risks and benefits transparent Conduct post-audits
Key Indicators For Monitoring Drought • climate data (precipitation, temperature) • soil moisture • stream flow • ground water • reservoir and lake levels • snow pack • short, medium, and long range forecasts • vegetation health/stress and fire danger