High Resolution Indicators for Local Drought Monitoring REBECCA CUMBIE, STATE CLIMATE OFFICE OF NC, NCSU Monitoring Drought Multiple indicators, multiple sources Local detail important 1
Point-Based Climate-Division Level http://drought.unl.edu/monitoringtools/climatedivisionspi/archivedspimaps.as px http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/regional _monitoring/palmer.gif 2
How do we get Local Detal? Utilize Multisensor Precipitation Estimates (MPE) Combination of: Radar-derived precipitation Surface gauge observations Satellite-derived precipitation PRISM-precipitation Calculate drought indices water.weather.gov MPE -- Advantages High-resolution (4.7625 km) Available over contiguous US Estimates precipitation where no/few gauges located Updated daily (12UTC to 12UTC) 6 3
MPE -- Disadvantages Limited in areas with: Poor radar coverage Few surface observations 7 PRISM Grids Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model Interpolation of station-based precipitation measurements Takes into account: Elevation Topographic facet Proximity to water bodies PRISM normals (1981-2010) Daily and monthly Temperature Precipitation (historical) 4
High Resolution Drought Indicators Precipitation Percent of Normal Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) SPI Blend Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) Palmer Drought Indices (Z-Index, PHDI, PDSI, PMDI) Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) Accumulated Precipitation Percent of Normal Precipitation 14-Day ending March 18, 2015 14-Day ending March 18, 2015 5
Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) Proposed by McKee et al., 1993 Precipitation-based drought index Observed precipitation is represented as standard deviations away from mean SPI is normally distributed Mean and median equal zero Values typically ±2 Multiscalar Normalized to location s historical distribution SPI Sum MPE for given time scale Sum PRISM normals for same time scale Divide MPE by PRISM Calculate cumulative probability Use interpolated distribution parameters Transform using inverse normal function to SPI 0% 12-month Duration, February 4, 2014 Fraction MPE of Normal 500% PRISM SPI 0in -3 3 80in 12 6
60-day 30-day 90-day 24-month 12-month 6-month SPI Evaluation Comparison against SPI from: WWDT (PRISM-based) NCDC (station-based; climate division) DDIT (station-based; multiple spatial units) Strongly correlated at climate division scale Pixel-to-station comparisons show strong agreement Offers spatial and temporal detail not captured in other products 7
SPI Blend Proposed by McRoberts and Nielsen-Gammon (2011) Premise: Current drought severity influenced by recent precipitation Conventional SPI gives equal weight to all precipitation SPI Blends give greater weight to more recent precipitation All other aspects of calculation the same 1-month SPI 1-month SPI Blend June 14, 2014 June 15, 2014 8
SPI Blend Evaluation Comparison to conventional SPI and USDM 2012 Central Great Plains Drought 2007-2008 Carolinas Drought Results: SPI better matched USDM in Carolinas SPI Blend better matched USDM in Great Plains Comparison to in situ soil moisture SPI Blend better match How can I view these? www.climate.ncsu.edu/drought 9
In Progress Palmer Drought Indices Palmer, 1965 Simplified climatological balance for each month ET, Runoff, Soil Recharge and Loss, etc. Calculate historical climatologically appropriate values Use PRISM temp and precip Over 1981-2010 period Data: Summed daily MPE Monthly PRISM temperature 10
Monthly Palmer Drought Indices In the process of evaluating Will be added to web display Next steps: updated daily?? Z-Index Palmer Hydrological Drought Index Modified Palmer Drought Severity Index Palmer Drought Severity Index Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) Developed in 1960s by 2 fire scientists at USFS Represents depth of dryness in soil Varies from 0 (no dryness) to 800 Don t need to measure soil moisture Uses daily maximum temperature, daily total precipitation, annual average precipitation 11
KBDI Preliminary evaluation is promising Comparison to station-based (and gridded?) KBDI to come Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) Developed by Vicente-Serrano et al., 2010 Based on climatological balance: Precipitation Potential Evapotranspiration Computationally similar to SPI Use daily MPE, daily PRISM temperature Right now: Historical distribution parameters Preliminary SPEI Evaluation to come next 12
Saturation Index 4/7/2015 What s next? Incorporate into active drought (water) monitoring Can we establish relationships with drought indicators? Soil moisture Streamflow Groundwater Vegetation (NVDI) 0.9 0.8 Waynesville, NC 0.7 Observed Estimated 0.6 0.5 0.4 5/1/2012 6/1/2012 7/1/2012 Date 8/1/2012 9/1/2012 Acknowledgements Gridded drought products were developed with support from USDA NIFA, NOAA CPO, and NIDIS. Special thanks to NWS and PRISM for making data and products freely available. Partners: 13
Questions? Email: rvcumbie@ncsu.edu www.climate.ncsu.edu/drought 14