Remote sensing of drought: satellite-based monitoring tools for the United States

Authors: WARDLOW, BRIAN - University Of Nebraska; Anderson, Martha; TADESSE, T - University Of Nebraska; HAIN, CHRIS - Nasa Marshall Space Flight Center; Crow, Wade; RODELL, M - Goddard Space Flight Center

Submitted to: Remote Sensing
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/23/2024
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Drought is a naturally recurring climatic feature of most regions of the world that can negatively impact many sectors of society, including agriculture, water resources, energy, ecosystem services, and economic conditions. The impact and significance of drought is expected to increase as the climate changes and climatic extremes increase, and as demands on finite water supplies continue to increase to support competing sectoral demands (e.g., agricultural, municipal, industrial, and ecological). Traditional drought monitoring has relied heavily upon in situ-based meteorological (i.e., precipitation and temperature) and hydrological (e.g., lake/reservoir level, stream flow, soil moisture, and groundwater elevation) observations that represent discrete point-based information. However, here is an increasing demand for more timely and spatially detailed drought information by the U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) and many other drought monitoring activities both in the United States and internationally to address this natural hazard at a more localized scale. Satellite-based remote sensing holds considerable potential to improve drought information at local scales, as the tools and products they provide are of a higher-resolution, spatially continuous nature across large areas that can fill in data gaps and complement traditional in situ measurements and existing drought assessment tools. This chapter will highlight several satellite-based remote sensing tools that have been developed to support and enhance operational drought monitoring in the United States. The focus is on tools that characterize terrestrial components of the hydrologic cycle related to drought, including vegetation, health, ET, soil moisture, and groundwater. These tools are also either currently operational or have the potential to be operational in the near future. For each tool, the objectives and methods will be summarized, informational drought products highlighted, and current/future work and efforts to extend them internationally discussed. Several upcoming satellite missions that hold considerable potential to further advance our drought monitoring will also be presented.