Home News Research   Staff

  Research   

Comparison of rainfall in May 1999
with the long-term average

Drought areas are defined based on drought monitoring information provided by "The Drought Monitor" which is produced by USDA, NOAA, and the National Drought Mitigation Center based at the University of Nebraska. Federal disaster relief is determined using a combination of several indices: Palmer drought Index (see below), soil moisture, streamflow, proportion of normal precipitation, surface soil moisture, and a satellite vegetation health index.

The USDA Economic Research Service makes recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture based on the above factors as well as economic decisions related to types of crops, expected production, commodity receipts and expenses, and crop insurance coverage. The Agricultural Secretary then makes the recommendation to declare given areas eligible for low interest loans for drought relief.

 

Mid-Atlantic counties designated for
1999 Federal drought relief funds

| Main Drought Page |


Home News Research   Staff    


 
 
The results and data products displayed on these web pages are the intellectual property of the Mid-Atlantic RESAC, consisting of the University of Maryland, Woods Hole Research Center and Shippensburg University. Any use of these products must cite the appropriate publication or, in the case of unpublished materials including maps and data, the Mid-Atlantic RESAC  partners responsible for the work.

Neither the RESAC nor its partners can accept any responsibility for the consequences of use of the information provided.

 
For questions and information, please contact resac@geog.umd.edu
 
Partially updated on 21.AUG.2008