![drought severity](https://i0.wp.com/agnetwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/global-drought-severity-index-1024x447.png?resize=742%2C324)
Global Integrated Drought Monitoring and Prediction System (GIDMaPS)
Courtesy of University of California-Irvine
Researchers announcing the index say it will “provide for accurate and continuous drought monitoring” worldwide. The data set for the drought severity index covers 2002 to 2014, but will be extended with the current mission and the GRACE follow-up mission scheduled to be launched in early 2018.
Researchers say the index will be very reliable because it’s based solely on satellite gravity observations, which enables it to provide globally consistent drought monitoring, even in places where ground readings are difficult to obtain. You can find the data online by searching for the UCI drought index.
From the National Association of Farm Broadcasting News Service.