|
NOAA's Participation in WSSD — Global Drought and Vegetation |
Drought is the most damaging environmental phenomenon. During 1967-1991, droughts affected 50 percent of the 2.8 billion people who suffered from weather-related disasters. Since droughts cover large areas, it is difficult to monitor them using conventional systems.
As a result, NOAA has designed a new Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer-based Vegetation Condition Index and Temperature Condition Index, which has been useful in detecting and monitoring large area, drought-related vegetation stress throughout the world (e.g., South America, Africa, Asia, North America and Europe). Specifically, this satellite-based information has been recognized internationally—by the global scientific and operational community—for its ability to provide drought warnings four to six weeks earlier than more conventional ground-based data. It has been publicized by the American Meteorological Society, U.N.-based organizations and international remote sensing publications.
|
Relevant Documents and Links |
NOAA’s Drought Information Center
NOAA NESDIS Vegetation Health One-Pager (both Spanish and Engish Versions)
Vegetation health and fire risk site
NESDIS National Geophysical Data Center: Ecosystems
|
