Oct 10

News & Events

Ecological Drought: What We Have Learned and Where We Are Going: October 10, 2024

October 10, 2024

3:00 pm - 4:00 pm

ET

This five-part webinar series seeks to raise awareness of ecological drought, share actions that strengthen ecosystem resilience and mitigate the impacts of droughts, and highlight advancements in integrating interdisciplinary research and management needs for future drought planning and preparedness. The series is co-hosted by the NOAA National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) and the USGS National Climate Adaptation Science Center (NCASC), with expert speakers from the research community, tribal nations, and government agencies. Information shared will build on the NIDIS/NCASC 2021 National Ecological Drought Webinar Series.

0:00

Welcome and Introductions

Speakers: Meredith Muth, NOAA’s National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS); Jackson Valler, USGS National Climate Adaptation Science Center (NCASC)

This webinar is the first in a five-part webinar series that seeks to raise awareness of ecological drought, share actions that strengthen ecosystem resilience and mitigate the impacts of droughts, and highlight advancements in integrating interdisciplinary research and management needs for future drought planning and preparedness.
The series was jointly organized by NIDIS and the National CASC—and our speakers are contributing their expertise to meet these webinar goals.
Information shared will build on the NIDIS/NCASC 2021 National Ecological Drought Webinar Series.

5:24

Drought as an Emergent Driver of Ecological Transformation in the Twenty-First Century

Speaker: Dr. Wynne E. Moss, USGS Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center

Some systems do not recover from drought, but instead undergo ecological transformation, shifting to a new, persistent ecosystem state with different species and functions.
Examples of drought-driven ecological transformations exist across the globe and involve diverse ecosystems and pathways.
The risk of transformation is changing because (1) climate change has altered drought regimes and (2) ecosystem resilience to drought has shifted.
Resources:
- Moss et al. (2024). Drought as an emergent driver of ecological transformation in the twenty-first century. BioScience, 74.
- Crausbay et al. (2020). Unfamiliar Territory: Emerging Themes for Ecological Drought Research and Management. One Earth, 3(3).
- Martínez-Vilalta and Lloret (2016). Drought-induced vegetation shifts in terrestrial ecosystems: The key role of regeneration dynamics. Global and Planetary Change, 144.
For more information, contact Wynne Moss.

20:52

A Flexible Data-Driven Approach to Crafting Drought Vulnerability Assessments for Adaptation Planning

Speaker: Shelley Crausbay | USDA Forest Service

Understanding relationships between drought indices and ecological response is insufficient for effective drought adaptation.
Landscape characteristics, ecological conditions, and in some cases human water use are key components of vulnerability.
Our approach for developing a drought vulnerability assessment is flexible, empirical, place-based, and centered on vulnerability.
Drought adaptation is a critical part of climate change adaptation.
Resources:
- Crausbay et al. (2017). Defining Ecological Drought for the Twenty-First Century. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 98(12).
- Gregg R.M. and Kershner J. (2019). Extremes to Ex-Streams: Ecological Drought Adaptation in a Changing Climate. EcoAdapt, Bainbridge Island, WA.
- Crausbay et al. (2020). Unfamiliar Territory: Emerging Themes for Ecological Drought Research and Management. One Earth, 3(3).
- The Compendium of Adaptation Approaches. The USDA Climate Hubs.
- Crausbay et al. (2024). A Flexible Data-Driven Approach to Co-Producing Drought Vulnerability Assessments. Ecosphere, 15(10).
For more information, contact Shelley Crausbay.

34:08

What Goes with the Flow: A Review of Linkages Between Climate Change, Low Flows, Water Quality, and Instream Flow Management Response Across the United States

Speaker: Charlotte Lee, North Carolina State University, USGS Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center

Low-flow water quality literature is scattered and lacking in some U.S. regions (Alaska, Pacific Islands, Caribbean).
Dissolved oxygen decreases while temperature and salinity increase in response to low flows across the U.S., even if driving mechanisms differ locally or regionally.
Water quality is not explicit in most flow management frameworks; however, there is potential for its consideration.
Similar challenges during low flows may inspire sharing knowledge across regions and scales for management solutions.
For more information, contact Charlotte Lee.

50:05

Q&A and Closing

Speaker: Meredith Muth, NOAA/NIDIS

Learn more about this 2024–2025 National Ecological Drought Webinar Series.
Learn more about ecological drought.
Register for the next webinar in the series, Ecological Drought: Future of Aquatic Flows, on November 4, 2024, 3–4 p.m. ET.

Key Partners

NOAA emblem

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS)

U.S. Geological Survey

U.S. Geological Survey.

National Climate Adaptation Science Center

Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center

U.S. Geological Survey.

Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center

U.S. Forest Service

North Carolina State University

Upcoming Events

Jan 7 2025

Workshop on Drought and Aquatic Ecosystems in the Southeast U.S.

Jan 27 2025

California-Nevada January 2025 Drought & Climate Outlook Webinar

Jan 28 2025

January Southeast Climate Monthly Webinar