Share

Facebook logo Twitter logo Google+ logo LinkedIn logo Reddit logo

Highlights

Since 1989, the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) has submitted annual reports to Congress called Our Changing Planet. The reports describe the status of USGCRP research activities, provide progress updates, and document recent accomplishments.

In particular, Our Changing Planet highlights progress and accomplishments in interagency activities. These highlights represent the broad spectrum of USGCRP activities that extend from Earth system observations, modeling, and fundamental research through synthesis and assessment, decision support, education, and public engagement.

Observations, Modeling, Water Resources, Land Use & Land Cover, Agriculture & Food, Extreme Events

Mapping Fallowed Farmland During Drought

The greenness of croplands in January is shown relative to the 13-year average from NASA MODIS records. Satellite imagery can be a powerful tool for understanding the impacts of drought on agricultural lands. (Source: NIDIS Newsletter, April 2014)

The severe, sustained drought affecting the Central Valley of California has caused a shortage of water for irrigation and crop production. The effect of this shortage is most immediately evident as an increase in the extent of fallowed farmland (or land taken out of agricultural production), which in turn serves as a proxy for socioeconomic impacts. Decision makers can use information about fallowed land to better understand the severity of drought impacts and to support requests for USDA drought disaster designations or emergency proclamations. USDA

...
Read more
Water Resources, Extreme Events

Drought Research to Support Management and Preparedness

The NMME (yellow column) is a seasonal forecasting system that combines individual models (purple columns N1-N6) to produce more accurate predictions of climate. In forecasts of precipitation (top two panels) and temperature (bottom two panels)—key factor

Drought is a significant hazard for the United States, with potentially severe and long-lasting impacts on the Nation’s economy and food and water supplies. USGCRP agencies are advancing our understanding of the causes and consequences of drought, an FY 2015 interagency research priority (see Section 4). They are also collaborating in efforts to support drought preparedness and recovery, such as the National Drought Resilience Partnership (a deliverable of the President’s Climate Action Plan) and the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS).

...
Read more
Water Resources, Extreme Events

Sharing Information to Improve Drought Monitoring and Forecasting

A map of continental U.S. drought conditions during July 2012, showing extreme and exceptional drought in several regions. (Source: U.S. Drought Monitor, a partnership between USDA, NOAA, and the National Drought Mitigation Center)

Overview
The 2011–2012 U.S. drought was the most severe and extensive in at least 25 years, and the effects are still being felt in some areas of the Nation. Recently, USDA partnered with local governments, colleges, and state and Federal partners— including NOAA and FEMA—to conduct a series of regional drought workshops. Hundreds of farmers, ranchers, business owners, and other stakeholders met with government officials to discuss needs

...
Read more