Objectives & Outcomes
- To review and assess drought indices currently used around the world for the three types of drought (meteorological, agricultural, and hydrological) ;
- To review and assess the strengths, weaknesses and limitations of existing drought indices and early warning systems;
- To develop a consensus standard index for each of the three types of drought;
- To develop guidelines for Members in implementing and improving drought early warning systems.
Several drought experts from each of the six Regions of WMO will be invited to prepare state-of-the-art discussion papers to address the above objectives. Discussions during the workshop will help develop standards for drought indices and guidelines for drought early warning systems. Proceedings of the Meeting will be published by WMO and NDMC and will be widely distributed. Outcomes of the workshop will be presented at a thematic session on drought indices at the Second International Conference on Climate, Sustainability, and Development, in Semi-arid Regions to be held in Fortaleza, Brazil, 16-20, August 2010.
Declaration on Drought Indices (12/11/2009)
