ABSTRACT
I. Introduction: The Importance of Drought Monitoring .................................................................... 54
II. Past Efforts ................................................................... 55 III. New Developments....................................................... 57
A. U.S. Drought Monitor............................................ 58 B. Climate Delivery Systems .................................... 60 C. Hydrological Indicators ......................................... 61 D. Soil Moisture.......................................................... 63 E. Satellite .................................................................. 64 F. Environmental and Qualitative Indicators ......... 64 G. Water Management Considerations..................... 64
IV. Drought Forecasting..................................................... 65 V. Conclusion..................................................................... 66 References.............................................................................. 67
I. INTRODUCTION: THE IMPORTANCE OF DROUGHT MONITORING
As the world moves into the 21st century, the stresses on available water resources will continue to grow. In the United States, increasing growth and development are already straining water supplies not only for the major metropolitan areas of the arid West, but also for areas such as Atlanta, Georgia, in the relatively humid eastern United States. Issues surrounding shared water resources across international boundaries, such as the Colorado and Rio Grande River basins between the United States and Mexico and the Great Lakes and Columbia River basins between the United States and Canada, will also continue to grow. Droughts, as a normal natural hazard in most climates, will compound these concerns. Therefore, because of serious drought impacts on water resources-related issues, planning for and responding effectively to future droughts will be critically important.
