6th to 12th Grade
What is the drought monitor and why is it important?
“It’s a weekly map showing the location and intensity of drought in the United States. Maps come out on Thursday morning, based on data through the preceding Tuesday morning. It’s not a forecast; it’s an assessment of past conditions, although because drought is slow-moving, it’s often safe to assume that an area in drought one week will still be in drought the next week. It’s not based on a statistical model. It’s based on many indicators and observations, not just precipitation.” http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/AboutUSDM/FAQ.aspx
This is what June 26th’s map looks like:
The Drought Monitor’s website is http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/