Drought in Africa is of increasing concern as millions are suffering from malnutrition and difficulty growing crops and supporting livestock. Stunted growth in children due to malnutrition was also recently linked to climate change. Join us as we talk with USGS scientists Jim Verdin, Jim Rowland and Chris Funk about what is being done to help.
James Rowland (Former Employee)
Science and Products
SSEBop Evapotranspiration Data from 2012 to Present: Dekadal (10-day), Monthly, Seasonal, and Annual Time Scales SSEBop Evapotranspiration Data from 2012 to Present: Dekadal (10-day), Monthly, Seasonal, and Annual Time Scales
On vegetated landscapes, Evapotranspiration (ET) can be simplified as the combination of evaporation from the soil and transpiration from vegetation. Actual ET (ETa) is produced using the Operational Simplified Surface Energy Balance (SSEBop) model Version 6 (Senay et al., 2013, 2020, 2023) from 2012 to Present using a data stream from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS...
Science Helping to Save Lives in Africa
Drought in Africa is of increasing concern as millions are suffering from malnutrition and difficulty growing crops and supporting livestock. Stunted growth in children due to malnutrition was also recently linked to climate change. Join us as we talk with USGS scientists Jim Verdin, Jim Rowland and Chris Funk about what is being done to help.
Filter Total Items: 47
In situ, modeled, and earth observation monitoring of surface water availability in West African rangelands In situ, modeled, and earth observation monitoring of surface water availability in West African rangelands
Introduction: Rangeland ponds are vital to the livelihoods of pastoral and agropastoral communities in Africa, providing an important source of water for livestock. However, sparse instrumentation across much of Africa makes it extremely challenging to monitor surface water availability in these areas. Model estimates of surface water, for example, as used by the Famine Early Warning...
Authors
Kimberly Slinski, Gabriel B. Senay, Alkhalil Adoum, Shraddhanand Shukla, Amy McNally, James Rowland, Erwan Fillol, Soni Yatheendradas, Chris Funk, Andrew Hoell, Michael Jasinski
HarvestStat Africa – Harmonized subnational crop statistics for sub-Saharan Africa HarvestStat Africa – Harmonized subnational crop statistics for sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) faces severe agricultural data scarcity amidst high food insecurity and a large agricultural yield gap, making crop production data crucial for understanding and enhancing food systems. To address this gap, HarvestStat Africa presents the largest compilation of open-access subnational crop statistics and time-series across SSA. Based on agricultural statistics...
Authors
Donghoon Lee, Weston Anderson, Xuan Chen, Frank Davenport, Shraddhanand Shukla, Ritvik Sahajpal, Michael Budde, James Rowland, James Verdin, Liangzhi You, Matthieu Ahouangbenon, Kyle Frankel Davis, Endalkachew Kebede, Steffen Ehrmann, Christina Justice, Carsten Meyer
Testing spatial out-of-sample area of influence for grain forecasting models Testing spatial out-of-sample area of influence for grain forecasting models
We examine the factors that determine if a grain forecasting model fit to one region can be transferred to another region. Prior research has proposed examining the area of applicability (AoA) of a model based on structurally similar characteristics in the Earth Observation predictors and weights based on the model derived feature importance. We expand on and evaluate this approach in...
Authors
Frank Davenport, Donghoon Lee, Shraddhanand Shukla, Greg Husak, W. Chris Funk, Michael Budde, James Rowland
ENSO-based outlook of droughts and agricultural outcomes in Afghanistan ENSO-based outlook of droughts and agricultural outcomes in Afghanistan
Drought is one of the key drivers of food insecurity in Afghanistan, which is among the most food insecure countries in the world. In this study, we build on previous research and seek to answer the central question: “What is the influence of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on drought outlooks and agricultural yield outcome in Afghanistan, and how do these influences vary spatially?”...
Authors
Shraddhanand Shukla, Fahim Zaheer, Andrew Hoell, Weston Anderson, Harikishan Jayanthi, Greg Husak, Donghoon Lee, Brian Barker, Shahriar Pervez, Kimberly Slinski, Christina Justice, James Rowland, Amy McNally, Michael Budde, James Verdin
A Central Asia hydrologic monitoring dataset for food and water security applications in Afghanistan A Central Asia hydrologic monitoring dataset for food and water security applications in Afghanistan
From the Hindu Kush mountains to the Registan Desert, Afghanistan is a diverse landscape where droughts, floods, conflict, and economic market accessibility pose challenges for agricultural livelihoods and food security. The ability to remotely monitor environmental conditions is critical to support decision making for humanitarian assistance. The Famine Early Warning Systems Network...
Authors
Amy McNally, Jossy Jacob, Kristi Arsenault, Kimberly Slinski, Daniel Sarmiento, Andrew Hoell, Shahriar Pervez, James Rowland, Michael Budde, Sujay Kumar, Christa Peters-Lidard, James Verdin
Maize yield forecasts for Sub-Saharan Africa using Earth Observation data and machine learning Maize yield forecasts for Sub-Saharan Africa using Earth Observation data and machine learning
Food insecurity continues to grow in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In 2019, chronically malnourished people numbered nearly 240 million, or 20% of the population in SSA. Globally, numerous efforts have been made to anticipate potential droughts, crop conditions, and food shortages in order to improve early warning and risk management for food insecurity. To support this goal, we develop an...
Authors
Donghoon Lee, Frank Davenport, Shraddhanand Shukla, Gregory Husak, W. Chris Funk, Laura Harrison, Amy McNally, Michael Budde, James Rowland, James Verdin
Integrating satellite thermal imagery and global weather datasets for operational actual evapotranspiration mapping and drought early warning applications Integrating satellite thermal imagery and global weather datasets for operational actual evapotranspiration mapping and drought early warning applications
The development and online access to an operational global actual evapotranspiration (ETa) is described. The global ETa is generated using the Operational Simplified Surface Energy Balance (SSEBop) model with inputs from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) land surface temperature and gridded weather datasets. Global and regional ETa, as well as anomaly graphics and...
Authors
Gabriel B. Senay, Stefanie Bohms, Claudia Young, Cheryl L. Holen, Maxwell Thomas Mcelhone, Michael Budde, James Rowland
Enhancing the application of Earth observations for improved environmental decision-making using the Early Warning eXplorer (EWX) Enhancing the application of Earth observations for improved environmental decision-making using the Early Warning eXplorer (EWX)
The mitigation of losses due to extreme climate events and long-term climate adaptation requires climate informed decision-making. In the past few decades, several remote sensing and modeled-based Earth observations (EOs) have been developed to provide an unprecedented global overview and routine monitoring of climate and its impacts on vegetation and hydrologic conditions, with the goal...
Authors
Shraddhanand Shukla, Martin Landsfeld, Michelle Anthony, Michael Budde, Greg Husak, James Rowland, Chris Funk
Vegetation monitoring optimization with normalized difference vegetation index and evapotranspiration using remote sensing measurements and land surface models over East Africa Vegetation monitoring optimization with normalized difference vegetation index and evapotranspiration using remote sensing measurements and land surface models over East Africa
The majority of people in East Africa rely on the agro-pastoral system for their livelihood, which is highly vulnerable to droughts and flooding. Agro-pastoral droughts are endemic to the region and are considered the main natural hazard that contributes to food insecurity. Drought begins with rainfall deficit, gradually leading to soil moisture deficit, higher land surface temperature...
Authors
Shahriar Pervez, Amy McNally, Kristi Arsenault, Michael Budde, James Rowland
A high-resolution 1983-2016 Tmax climate data record based on InfraRed Temperatures and Stations by the Climate Hazard Center A high-resolution 1983-2016 Tmax climate data record based on InfraRed Temperatures and Stations by the Climate Hazard Center
Understanding the dynamics and physics of climate extremes will be a critical challenge for 21st century climate science. Increasing temperatures and saturation vapor pressures may exacerbate heat waves, droughts and precipitation extremes. Yet our ability to monitor temperature variations is limited and declining. Between 1983 and 2016 the number of observations in the CRU Tmax product...
Authors
Chris Funk, Pete Peterson, Seth H. Peterson, Shraddhanand Shukla, Frank Davenport, Joel Michaelsen, Martin Landsfeld, Gregory Husak, Laura Harrison, James Rowland, Michael Budde, Kenneth Knapp
Recognizing the Famine Early Warning Systems Network: Over 30 years of drought early warning science advances and partnerships promoting global food security Recognizing the Famine Early Warning Systems Network: Over 30 years of drought early warning science advances and partnerships promoting global food security
On a planet with more than 7 billion people, how do we identify the millions of drought-afflicted people who face a real threat of livelihood disruption or death without humanitarian assistance? Typically, these people are poor and heavily dependent on rainfed agriculture and livestock. Most live in Africa, Central America, or Southwest Asia. When the rains fail, incomes diminish while...
Authors
Chris Funk, Shraddhanand Shukla, Wassila Mamadou Thiaw, James Rowland, Andrew Hoell, Gregory Husak, Nicholas Novella
A climate trend analysis of Ethiopia: Examining subseasonal climate impacts on crops and pasture conditions A climate trend analysis of Ethiopia: Examining subseasonal climate impacts on crops and pasture conditions
Ethiopia experiences significant climate-induced drought and stress on crop and livestock productivity, contributing to widespread food insecurity. Here, we present subseasonal crop water stress analyses that indicate degrading, growing conditions along Ethiopia’s eastern highlands, including productive and populated highland regions. These seasonally shifting areas of increasing water...
Authors
Molly E. Brown, Chris Funk, Diego Pedreros, Diriba Korecha, Melesse Lemma, James Rowland, Emily Williams, James Verdin
Science and Products
SSEBop Evapotranspiration Data from 2012 to Present: Dekadal (10-day), Monthly, Seasonal, and Annual Time Scales SSEBop Evapotranspiration Data from 2012 to Present: Dekadal (10-day), Monthly, Seasonal, and Annual Time Scales
On vegetated landscapes, Evapotranspiration (ET) can be simplified as the combination of evaporation from the soil and transpiration from vegetation. Actual ET (ETa) is produced using the Operational Simplified Surface Energy Balance (SSEBop) model Version 6 (Senay et al., 2013, 2020, 2023) from 2012 to Present using a data stream from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS...
Science Helping to Save Lives in Africa
Drought in Africa is of increasing concern as millions are suffering from malnutrition and difficulty growing crops and supporting livestock. Stunted growth in children due to malnutrition was also recently linked to climate change. Join us as we talk with USGS scientists Jim Verdin, Jim Rowland and Chris Funk about what is being done to help.
Drought in Africa is of increasing concern as millions are suffering from malnutrition and difficulty growing crops and supporting livestock. Stunted growth in children due to malnutrition was also recently linked to climate change. Join us as we talk with USGS scientists Jim Verdin, Jim Rowland and Chris Funk about what is being done to help.
Filter Total Items: 47
In situ, modeled, and earth observation monitoring of surface water availability in West African rangelands In situ, modeled, and earth observation monitoring of surface water availability in West African rangelands
Introduction: Rangeland ponds are vital to the livelihoods of pastoral and agropastoral communities in Africa, providing an important source of water for livestock. However, sparse instrumentation across much of Africa makes it extremely challenging to monitor surface water availability in these areas. Model estimates of surface water, for example, as used by the Famine Early Warning...
Authors
Kimberly Slinski, Gabriel B. Senay, Alkhalil Adoum, Shraddhanand Shukla, Amy McNally, James Rowland, Erwan Fillol, Soni Yatheendradas, Chris Funk, Andrew Hoell, Michael Jasinski
HarvestStat Africa – Harmonized subnational crop statistics for sub-Saharan Africa HarvestStat Africa – Harmonized subnational crop statistics for sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) faces severe agricultural data scarcity amidst high food insecurity and a large agricultural yield gap, making crop production data crucial for understanding and enhancing food systems. To address this gap, HarvestStat Africa presents the largest compilation of open-access subnational crop statistics and time-series across SSA. Based on agricultural statistics...
Authors
Donghoon Lee, Weston Anderson, Xuan Chen, Frank Davenport, Shraddhanand Shukla, Ritvik Sahajpal, Michael Budde, James Rowland, James Verdin, Liangzhi You, Matthieu Ahouangbenon, Kyle Frankel Davis, Endalkachew Kebede, Steffen Ehrmann, Christina Justice, Carsten Meyer
Testing spatial out-of-sample area of influence for grain forecasting models Testing spatial out-of-sample area of influence for grain forecasting models
We examine the factors that determine if a grain forecasting model fit to one region can be transferred to another region. Prior research has proposed examining the area of applicability (AoA) of a model based on structurally similar characteristics in the Earth Observation predictors and weights based on the model derived feature importance. We expand on and evaluate this approach in...
Authors
Frank Davenport, Donghoon Lee, Shraddhanand Shukla, Greg Husak, W. Chris Funk, Michael Budde, James Rowland
ENSO-based outlook of droughts and agricultural outcomes in Afghanistan ENSO-based outlook of droughts and agricultural outcomes in Afghanistan
Drought is one of the key drivers of food insecurity in Afghanistan, which is among the most food insecure countries in the world. In this study, we build on previous research and seek to answer the central question: “What is the influence of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on drought outlooks and agricultural yield outcome in Afghanistan, and how do these influences vary spatially?”...
Authors
Shraddhanand Shukla, Fahim Zaheer, Andrew Hoell, Weston Anderson, Harikishan Jayanthi, Greg Husak, Donghoon Lee, Brian Barker, Shahriar Pervez, Kimberly Slinski, Christina Justice, James Rowland, Amy McNally, Michael Budde, James Verdin
A Central Asia hydrologic monitoring dataset for food and water security applications in Afghanistan A Central Asia hydrologic monitoring dataset for food and water security applications in Afghanistan
From the Hindu Kush mountains to the Registan Desert, Afghanistan is a diverse landscape where droughts, floods, conflict, and economic market accessibility pose challenges for agricultural livelihoods and food security. The ability to remotely monitor environmental conditions is critical to support decision making for humanitarian assistance. The Famine Early Warning Systems Network...
Authors
Amy McNally, Jossy Jacob, Kristi Arsenault, Kimberly Slinski, Daniel Sarmiento, Andrew Hoell, Shahriar Pervez, James Rowland, Michael Budde, Sujay Kumar, Christa Peters-Lidard, James Verdin
Maize yield forecasts for Sub-Saharan Africa using Earth Observation data and machine learning Maize yield forecasts for Sub-Saharan Africa using Earth Observation data and machine learning
Food insecurity continues to grow in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In 2019, chronically malnourished people numbered nearly 240 million, or 20% of the population in SSA. Globally, numerous efforts have been made to anticipate potential droughts, crop conditions, and food shortages in order to improve early warning and risk management for food insecurity. To support this goal, we develop an...
Authors
Donghoon Lee, Frank Davenport, Shraddhanand Shukla, Gregory Husak, W. Chris Funk, Laura Harrison, Amy McNally, Michael Budde, James Rowland, James Verdin
Integrating satellite thermal imagery and global weather datasets for operational actual evapotranspiration mapping and drought early warning applications Integrating satellite thermal imagery and global weather datasets for operational actual evapotranspiration mapping and drought early warning applications
The development and online access to an operational global actual evapotranspiration (ETa) is described. The global ETa is generated using the Operational Simplified Surface Energy Balance (SSEBop) model with inputs from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) land surface temperature and gridded weather datasets. Global and regional ETa, as well as anomaly graphics and...
Authors
Gabriel B. Senay, Stefanie Bohms, Claudia Young, Cheryl L. Holen, Maxwell Thomas Mcelhone, Michael Budde, James Rowland
Enhancing the application of Earth observations for improved environmental decision-making using the Early Warning eXplorer (EWX) Enhancing the application of Earth observations for improved environmental decision-making using the Early Warning eXplorer (EWX)
The mitigation of losses due to extreme climate events and long-term climate adaptation requires climate informed decision-making. In the past few decades, several remote sensing and modeled-based Earth observations (EOs) have been developed to provide an unprecedented global overview and routine monitoring of climate and its impacts on vegetation and hydrologic conditions, with the goal...
Authors
Shraddhanand Shukla, Martin Landsfeld, Michelle Anthony, Michael Budde, Greg Husak, James Rowland, Chris Funk
Vegetation monitoring optimization with normalized difference vegetation index and evapotranspiration using remote sensing measurements and land surface models over East Africa Vegetation monitoring optimization with normalized difference vegetation index and evapotranspiration using remote sensing measurements and land surface models over East Africa
The majority of people in East Africa rely on the agro-pastoral system for their livelihood, which is highly vulnerable to droughts and flooding. Agro-pastoral droughts are endemic to the region and are considered the main natural hazard that contributes to food insecurity. Drought begins with rainfall deficit, gradually leading to soil moisture deficit, higher land surface temperature...
Authors
Shahriar Pervez, Amy McNally, Kristi Arsenault, Michael Budde, James Rowland
A high-resolution 1983-2016 Tmax climate data record based on InfraRed Temperatures and Stations by the Climate Hazard Center A high-resolution 1983-2016 Tmax climate data record based on InfraRed Temperatures and Stations by the Climate Hazard Center
Understanding the dynamics and physics of climate extremes will be a critical challenge for 21st century climate science. Increasing temperatures and saturation vapor pressures may exacerbate heat waves, droughts and precipitation extremes. Yet our ability to monitor temperature variations is limited and declining. Between 1983 and 2016 the number of observations in the CRU Tmax product...
Authors
Chris Funk, Pete Peterson, Seth H. Peterson, Shraddhanand Shukla, Frank Davenport, Joel Michaelsen, Martin Landsfeld, Gregory Husak, Laura Harrison, James Rowland, Michael Budde, Kenneth Knapp
Recognizing the Famine Early Warning Systems Network: Over 30 years of drought early warning science advances and partnerships promoting global food security Recognizing the Famine Early Warning Systems Network: Over 30 years of drought early warning science advances and partnerships promoting global food security
On a planet with more than 7 billion people, how do we identify the millions of drought-afflicted people who face a real threat of livelihood disruption or death without humanitarian assistance? Typically, these people are poor and heavily dependent on rainfed agriculture and livestock. Most live in Africa, Central America, or Southwest Asia. When the rains fail, incomes diminish while...
Authors
Chris Funk, Shraddhanand Shukla, Wassila Mamadou Thiaw, James Rowland, Andrew Hoell, Gregory Husak, Nicholas Novella
A climate trend analysis of Ethiopia: Examining subseasonal climate impacts on crops and pasture conditions A climate trend analysis of Ethiopia: Examining subseasonal climate impacts on crops and pasture conditions
Ethiopia experiences significant climate-induced drought and stress on crop and livestock productivity, contributing to widespread food insecurity. Here, we present subseasonal crop water stress analyses that indicate degrading, growing conditions along Ethiopia’s eastern highlands, including productive and populated highland regions. These seasonally shifting areas of increasing water...
Authors
Molly E. Brown, Chris Funk, Diego Pedreros, Diriba Korecha, Melesse Lemma, James Rowland, Emily Williams, James Verdin