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North American Drought Monitor Workshop

Mexico City, Mexico
October 18-19, 2006

Hosted by the National Meteorological Service of Mexico
(SMN - Servicio Meteorologico Nacional)

This page last updated 31 December 1969

General Information / Workshop Details / Workshop Goals / Workshop Agenda / Presentations / Photos
 

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General Information:

Drought is one of the costliest and most prevalent natural hazards on the North American continent. In recent years within the U.S. alone, drought has resulted in average annual economic losses of $6-8 Billion (US), and the worst droughts of the past 25 years led to losses exceeding $40B (US). However, drought and its impacts are not confined by a nation's borders. As the demand for water resources has increased across the continent due to population growth and economic expansion, naturally occurring droughts have created greater water crises as the already limited supply of this valuable resource is stretched thinner.

Severe drought during the past several years created concerns about shared water rights not only between states and interests within the U.S., but also between neighboring countries. Agriculture and farming interests were affected in all three countries (Canada, Mexico, and the U.S.), wildfire outbreaks forced the sharing of firefighting resources across borders, and municipalities were forced to levy water restrictions at various times in many parts of the continent.

In 2001, government officials within the U.S., Mexico and Canada established a trilateral partnership to improve drought monitoring on the North Amerian continent and provide decision makers with information essential to planning, mitigation and response activities. This was accomplished through the initiation of a North American Drought Monitor (NADM).

Each month, drought experts from these three countries produce the North American Drought Monitor and associated drought indicators using an array of analytical methods for determining the current state of drought across the continent. The NADM provides a comprehensive analysis of end-of-month drought conditions through the use of numerous objective drought indices and indicators along with input from contributors at the regional, provincial, and local levels. Initially provided as a developmental product before the end of each month, the NADM is now issued on an operational basis by the 16th of each month.

Continuing work of the trilateral team is focused on improving various aspects of the NADM to better meet the needs of users and decision makers at all levels of the public and private sector. This year's NADM workshop is another in a series of biannual meetings that are part of this continuing effort.

NA-DM participants include:

• National Meteorological Service of Mexico (SMN - Servicio Meteorologico Nacional)
• NOAA's National Climatic Data Center
• NOAA/NWS's Climate Prediction Center
• USDA's Joint Agricultural Weather Facility
• National Drought Mitigation Center
• Agriculture and Agrifood Canada, Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration
• Meteorological Service of Canada, Climate Research Branch

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Workshop Details:

The 2006 North America Drought Workshop will be held:

October 18-19, 2006, Wednesday - Thursday

National Meteorological Service of Mexico
Av.Observatorio 192
Col. Observatorio, CP 11860
Mexico City, Mexico
Room William Bowie

Please note the following:

• Seating capacity is limited. Seating will be available to the first 80 registered participants.
• Non-employees must show I.D. and will be issued a visitor's badge. All I.D. badges must be worn and visible at all times inside the building.
• Equipment available for presentations include an overhead projector and a computer equipped for Powerpoint presentations.
• A proceedings of this year's NADM workshop will be prepared to better communicate the important discussions of this drought monitoring effort to a wider audience. To do this we are requesting that each person making a presentation also provide a 4 to 6 page extended abstract (including figures and references) of their subject. We also ask that everyone provide an English translation of their paper. A short summary of formatting suggestions you may wish to follow in preparing your paper can be found here (PDF, Word). The proceedings will be published in early 2007. To ensure we are able to meet this deadline, all presenters are asked to bring digital copies of their extended abstract to the October workshop in one of two formats; Microsoft Word or Adobe pdf. This also may be e-mailed before the workshop to Miguel Cortez (miguel.cortez@cna.gob.mx) and Jay Lawrimore (jay.lawrimore@noaa.gov). Please let either of them know if you have any questions or need additional assistance.

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Workshop Goals:

The meeting is being held to facilitate technical discussion on a wide range of drought related subjects. The primary goal is the continued development of the North American Drought Monitor and associated technical and user issues directly related to the NADM. As part of this overarching goal, special attention will be given to the following areas.

•  Improving the timeliness of the NADM product
•  Quality and spatial coverage of the observed temperature and precipitation record
•  Development of new drought indices and indicators to further facilitate drought analyses across the continent
•  Improving the definition of drought and its impacts, particularly in arid and arctic climates
•  Providing users more ready access to drought information

Presentations on a variety of drought-related subjects are welcome. Participants are especially encouraged to consider the following areas.

• Defining drought in arid climates
• Defining drought in high latitude regions
• Incorporating forecasted conditions into drought index calculations
• Use of station-based drought indices in the U.S.
• Development and use of new drought indices and indicators
• Use of the Palmer Drought Index in Canada
• Quantifying drought when objective indicators are not aligned with impacts
• Data set development and quality control issues in undersampled regions
• Meeting the drought information needs of users and decision makers

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Workshop Agenda:

Wednesday, October 18

North America Drought Monitor: Administrative, Technical, and Science Issues

Schedule:

Speakers (times subject to change):

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Thursday, October 19

North America Drought Monitor Technical and Science Issues

Schedule:

Speakers (times subject to change):

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Photos:

           

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Hotel Information:

Participants are responsible for making their own hotel reservations.

The SMN recommends the María Cristina Hotel. It is located near the Zona Rosa and the American Embassy. To make a reservation please contact:

Phone number: (+52)5557031212 and 555566 9688
Fax: (+52)555592 3447 and 5555669194
E-mail: reserva@hmcristina.com.mx

Additional information including hotel rates is available online at: Hotel María Cristina

Mexico City Tourism Information

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If you have questions or need additional information on the October North American Drought Monitor Forum workshop, contact:

Miguel Cortez Vazquez
National Meteorological Service of Mexico
Av. Observatorio 192
Col. Observatorio 11860
Mexico City, DF, Mexico
email: miguel.cortez@cna.gob.mx

-or-

Jay Lawrimore
NOAA/National Climatic Data Center
151 Patton Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801-5001
fax: 828-271-4328
email: jay.lawrimore@noaa.gov

-or-

Richard Heim
NOAA/National Climatic Data Center
151 Patton Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801-5001
fax: 828-271-4328
email: richard.heim@noaa.gov

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Climate Monitoring / Search / Help

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