As part of a new experimental product, NASA scientists are generating groundwater and soil moisture drought indicators each week which are based on GRACE satellite data that is integrated with other observations using a sophisticated numerical model of land surface water and energy processes.
The drought indicators describe the current conditions as a percentile showing the probability of occurrence from 1948 to present (the period of record) with warmer colors meaning dryer than normal and blue values meaning wetter than normal.
These maps are different than other groundwater maps produced by the GRACE satellite data. These maps are meant to depict groundwater conditions drought associated with climatic variability, as opposed to depletion of aquifers. “If the groundwater drought indicator map accounted for human-induced depletion, such regions would be red all the time, which would not be useful for evaluating current wetness conditions relative to previous conditions,” the website states.
This is an experimental product that NASA and the National Drought Mitigation Center are developing. Specific, constructive feedback is encouraged.
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