The Vegetation Drought Response Index (VegDRI): A New Integrated Approach for Monitoring Drought Stress in Vegetation

Authors

Jesslyn F. Brown, U.S. Geological SurveyFollow
Brian D. Wardlow, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Tsegaye Tadesse, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Michael Hayes, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Bradley C. Reed, U.S. Geological Survey, Flagstaff Field Center

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2008

Citation

GIScience & Remote Sensing, 2008, 45, No. 1, p. 16–46.

DOI: 10.2747/1548-1603.45.1.16

Comments

U.S. government work

Abstract

The development of new tools that provide timely, detailed-spatial-resolution drought information is essential for improving drought preparedness and response. This paper presents a new method for monitoring drought-induced vegetation stress called the Vegetation Drought Response Index (VegDRI). VegDRI integrates traditional climate-based drought indicators and satellite-derived vegetation index metrics with other biophysical information to produce a 1 km map of drought conditions that can be produced in near-real time. The initial VegDRI map results for a 2002 case study conducted across seven states in the north-central United States illustrates the utility of VegDRI for improved large-area drought monitoring.