Regionalization of Northeast US moisture conditions: analysis of synoptic-scale atmospheric drivers

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (3) ◽  
pp. 193-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
ZJ Suriano ◽  
DJ Leathers ◽  
AE Benjamin

Previous investigations have documented relationships between global-scale forcings and Northeast United States moisture conditions, yet the physical pathways from global-scale forcing to sub-regional moisture deficit or surplus are not well understood. This research uses eigenvector-based regionalization to confirm the existence of sub-regional moisture environments within the Northeast. Synoptic classification is used to derive daily weather types that impact these moisture environments, and evaluate the relationship between global and synoptic scales. The Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) regionalization identifies 3 sub-regions across the Northeast with homogeneous moisture conditions including New England, the Eastern Great Lakes, and Mid-Atlantic Regions. All 3 regions’ PDSI conditions are predominantly associated with variations in precipitation, rather than thermal characteristics. The frequency of key precipitation-associated synoptic types can inform PDSI variability in the regions, where drier conditions are observed during growing seasons with a reduced frequency of precipitation-inducing synoptic types and an enhanced frequency of dry synoptic types. Variations in the frequencies of these synoptic types are partially explained by the phase of the various teleconnection patterns. In the case of the New England region, 14% of the variance in PDSI is explained by the frequency of synoptic type D2, and 12% of the variance in D2 is explained by variations in the Summer Atmospheric Drought Index. The New England region became significantly wetter (positive PDSI) from 1950 to 2016. This study suggests a partial cause of this trend is the increased and decreased frequencies of wet and dry synoptic types, respectively, both related to the phase of the Summer Atmospheric Drought Index.

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (5) ◽  
pp. 627-642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Eduardo Quesada-Hernández ◽  
Oscar David Calvo-Solano ◽  
Hugo G Hidalgo ◽  
Paula M Pérez-Briceño ◽  
Eric J Alfaro

The Central American Dry Corridor (CADC) is a sub-region in the isthmus that is relatively drier than the rest of the territory. Traditional delineations of the CADC’s boundaries start at the Pacific coast of southern Mexico, stretching south through Central America’s Pacific coast down to northwestern Costa Rica (Guanacaste province). Using drought indices (Standardized Precipitation Index, Modified Rainfall Anomaly Index, Palmer Drought Severity Index, Palmer Hydrological Drought Index, Palmer Drought Z-Index and the Reconnaissance Drought Index) along with a definition of aridity as the ratio of potential evapotranspiration (representing demand of water from the atmosphere) over precipitation (representing the supply of water), we proposed a CADC delineation that changes for normal, dry and wet years. The identification of areas that change their classification during extremely dry conditions is important because these areas may indicate the location of future expansion of aridity associated with climate change. In the same way, the delineation of the CADC during wet extremes allows the identification of locations that remain part of the CADC even during the wettest years and that may require special attention from the authorities.


2010 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1033-1043 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. M. Vicente-Serrano ◽  
S. Beguería ◽  
J. I. López-Moreno ◽  
M. Angulo ◽  
A. El Kenawy

Abstract A monthly global dataset of a multiscalar drought index is presented and compared in terms of spatial and temporal variability with the existing continental and global drought datasets based on the Palmer drought severity index (PDSI). The presented dataset is based on the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI). The index was obtained using the Climatic Research Unit (CRU) TS3.0 dataset at a spatial resolution of 0.5°. The advantages of the new dataset are that (i) it improves the spatial resolution of the unique global drought dataset at a global scale; (ii) it is spatially and temporally comparable to other datasets, given the probabilistic nature of the SPEI; and, in particular, (iii) it enables the identification of various drought types, given the multiscalar character of the SPEI. The dataset is freely available on the Web page of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) in three different formats [network Common Data Form (netCDF), binary raster, and plain text].


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-124
Author(s):  
Safrudin Nor Aripbilah ◽  
Heri Suprapto

El Nino and La Nina in Indonesia are one of the reasons that caused climate changes, which has possibility of drought and flood disasters. Sragen Regency wherethe dry season occurs, drought happened meanwhile other areas experience floods and landslides. A study on drought needs to be carried out so as to reduce the risk of losses due to the drought hazard. This study is to determine the drought index in Sragen Regency based on several methods and the correlation of each methods and its suitability to the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) and rainfall. Drought was analyzed using several methods such as Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI), Thornthwaite-Matter, and Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) then correlated with SOI to determine the most suitable method for SOI. The variables are applied in this method are rainfall, temperature, and evapotranspiration. The results showed that the drought potential of the Palmer method is only in Near Normal conditions, which is 1%, Severe drought conditions are 29% for the Thornthwaite-Matter method, and Extreme Dry conditions only reach 1,11% for the SPI method. The PDSI and SPI methods are inversely proportional to the Thornthwaite-Matter method and the most suitable method for SOI values or rainfall is the SPI method. These three methods can be identified the potential for drought with only a few variables so that they could be applied if they only have those data.Keywords: Drought, PDSI, Thornthwaite-Matter, SPI, SOI


2014 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 395-405 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Haberlie ◽  
Kari Gale ◽  
David Changnon ◽  
Mike Tannura

AbstractThis study examines the frequency of daily rainfall totals greater than 2.54 cm (1 in.) averaged within a climate division (CD) associated with tropical systems that moved through the U.S. eastern Corn Belt region during the growing season. These occurrences are defined as “events.” From 1913 to 2012, the tracks of 60 tropical systems moved over a study area that included 24 CDs—9 in Illinois, 9 in Indiana, and 6 in western Ohio. Of those 60 tropical systems, 37 were associated with events. Event risk varied through the growing season ranging from 3 events in June to 21 events in September. Decadal analysis showed an increase in the frequency of tropical systems and events during the last decade of the study (2003–12). Tropical systems were infrequent, and the timing of rainfall associated with the majority of events (i.e., September) was too late to impact corn and soybean development or yield in this region. Events had some impact on current and subsequent CD average soil moisture conditions; however, only 8 of the 37 events produced dramatic improvements in Palmer drought severity index (PDSI) values from categorical moderate to severe drought levels to near-normal conditions in the eastern Corn Belt. Those CDs that experienced a September or October event were associated with significantly higher PDSI values (+1.34) prior to the following summer than those that did not experience an event (+0.54).


2007 ◽  
Vol 20 (24) ◽  
pp. 6033-6044 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinyoung Rhee ◽  
Gregory J. Carbone

Abstract A method for weekly monitoring of the Palmer Drought Index (PDI) by using four parallel month-long calculation chains in rotation (“ROLLING” method) was tested for the Kansas Northwest Climate Division and the South Carolina Southern Climate Division and compared to two other methods, a modified version of the Climate Prediction Center’s weekly Palmer Drought Index monitoring method with a modified set of coefficients (“WEEKLY” method) and the National Climatic Data Center’s (NCDC’s) projected monthly Palmer Drought Index method using long-term historical daily normal temperature and precipitation (“NORMALS” method). The results for the Kansas Northwest Climate Division and the South Carolina Southern Climate Division generally agreed. The weekly method produced drought severity values that differ most from standard monthly PDI values despite using a modified set of coefficients. The method recently adopted by NCDC successfully estimated Palmer Modified Drought Index (PMDI) values late in the month, but often presented a misleading trend early in the month. The method used in this paper produced PMDI and Z Index values that approximate those found using the standard monthly PMDI code. It also preserves approximately the same length of memory found in that code, provides a tool for progressive drought monitoring allowing users to assess current drought conditions, produces a weekly historical archive of the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) and Palmer Hydrological Drought Index (PHDI), and enables users to identify the onset of drought early and more clearly.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4.44) ◽  
pp. 188
Author(s):  
Hadisuwito A.S ◽  
Hassan F.H

The drought index is an essential indicator for calculating forest fires’ potential. Many methods are developed to maintain the drought index. However, they provide less suitable at many places. Every area has their own character, and each of methods has their own specification. The spot problem is how to find the right method for those places. The forest of Bukit Suharto, has particular character as one of the rain tropical forests, and it needs suitable method. Furthermore, this study is conducted to examine the right methods that compatible for the forest. They are: Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI), Keetch Byram Drought Index (KBDI), Reconnaissance Drought Index (RDI), Standard Precipitation Index (SPI), Effective Drought Index (EDI), McArthur Forest Fire Danger Index (MFFDI), and Standard Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI). Every method has specific variables for the calculation, namely, the period, the data’s type, the formula’s complexity, the usability, and scale results’ type. On processing the seven methods, the researcher uses other techniques to asses them, namely, ELECTRE, TOPSIS, and Analytic Hierarchy Process. In final process, the conclusion is compared through the result. In summary, the results show that KBDI’s method is the most recommended, and TOPSIS is the best technique for recommendations. 


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liliang Ren

<p><span><span lang="EN-US">How drought changes in the context of global warming </span><span lang="EN-US">is a concerning issue that influences the strategies of drought mitigation and drought management.</span><span lang="EN-US"> Based on the simulations of the </span><span lang="EN-US">version 2 of Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS-2.0) during 1948-2016</span><span lang="EN-US">, we revisited the drought trend over China and analyzed the individual contributions of precipitation and potential evapotranspiration (PET) on varied drought patterns. Four composite drought indices including the </span><span lang="EN-US">Aggregate Drought Index (ADI)</span><span lang="EN-US">, </span><span lang="EN-US">Joint Drought Deficit Index (JDI), self-calibrating Palmer Drought Severity Index (scPDSI) and Standardized Palmer Drought Index (SPDI) were employed for trend detection. Results showed that all four composite drought indices suggested a significant drying belt spreads from northeastern China to southwestern China, and a significant wetting trend in the “Three river sources” areas. Controversial patterns were mainly located in the northwestern China, Xinjiang districts, and the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, where the SPDI and JDI respectively, overestimated and underestimated the moisture conditions at varying degrees. According to the change point tests, it is found that the drying pattern in the northeastern China occurred since 1970s, where precipitation deficits and expanded PET jointly aggravated the drying process, while for the “Three river sources” areas, the increased precipitation since 2000s is the main driver for the wetting pattern.</span></span></p>


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolo De Luca ◽  
Gabriele Messori ◽  
Robert L. Wilby ◽  
Maurizio Mazzoleni ◽  
Giuliano Di Baldassarre

Abstract. Multi-hazard events can be associated with larger socio-economic impacts than single-hazard events. Understanding the spatio-temporal interactions characterising the former is, therefore, of relevance to disaster risk reduction measures. Here, we consider two high-impact hazards, namely wet and dry hydrological extremes, and quantify their global co-occurrence. We define these using the monthly self-calibrated Palmer Drought Severity Index based on the Penman-Monteith model (sc_PDSI_pm) covering the period 1950–2014, at 2.5° horizontal resolution. We find that the land areas affected by extreme wet, dry and wet-dry events (i.e. geographically remote, yet temporally co-occurring wet or dry extremes) all display increasing trends with time, of which changes in dry and wet-dry episodes are significant (p-value


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian Wang ◽  
Yue Yang ◽  
Yangyang Liu ◽  
Linjing Tong ◽  
Qi-peng Zhang ◽  
...  

Abstract Quantitatively assessing the impacts of drought on grassland has significant implications to understand the degradation mechanism and prevention degraded grassland. In this study, we analyzed the relationship between grassland drought and grassland Net Primary Productivity (NPP) based on the self-calibrated Palmer Drought Severity Index (scPDSI) from 1982 to 2008. The results showed that the global grassland scPDSI value had a slightly increasing trend with the rate of 0.0119 per year (R2 = 0.195), indicating that the global grassland drought lighter to some extent during study period. Moreover, the correlation coefficient between annual grassland NPP and scPDSI was from −0.83 to 0.92. The grassland NPP decreased under mild drought from 1992 to 1996. Additionally, the correlation coefficient between scPDSI and NPP for each grassland type was: Closed Shrublands > Non-woody grassland > Savannas > Open Shrublands > Woody Savannas, indicating that drought had difference influences on the different grassland types. Our results might provide the underlying insights needed to be guide for the effects of extreme weather events on grassland NPP.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 339
Author(s):  
Liyang Liu ◽  
Xueqin Yang ◽  
Fanxi Gong ◽  
Yongxian Su ◽  
Guangqing Huang ◽  
...  

Despite its perennial canopy, the Amazonian tropical evergreen forest shows significant canopy growth seasonality, which has been represented by optical satellite-based observations. In this paper, a new Microwave Temperature–Vegetation Drought Index (MTVDI) based on Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for the Earth Observing System (AMSR-E) sensors was used to capture the canopy seasonality from 2003 to 2010 in comparison with four climatic dryness indicators (Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI), Climatological Water Deficit (CWD), Terrestrial Water Storage (TWS), Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD)) and two photosynthesis proxies (Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) and Solar-Induced chlorophyll Fluorescence (SIF)), respectively. Our results suggest that the MTVDI shows opposite seasonal variability with two photosynthesis proxies and performs better than the four climatic dryness indicators in reflecting the canopy photosynthesis seasonality of tropical forests in the Amazon. Besides, the MTVDI captures wet regions that show green-up during the dry season with mean annual precipitation higher than 2000 mm per year. The MTVDI provides a new way for monitoring the canopy seasonality of tropical forests from microwave signals.


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