Plant Stress Paints Early Picture of Drought

Plant Stress Paints Early Picture of Drought

In July 2012, farmers in the U.S. Midwest and Plains regions watched crops wilt and die after a stretch of unusually low precipitation and high temperatures. Before a lack of rain and record-breaking heat signaled a problem, scientists found an indication of drought in data from NASA and NOAA satellites: plant stress.

Maps using this data could aid in drought forecasts, and prove useful for applications such as crop yield estimates or decisions about crop loss compensation.

  Animation Of Drought Evolving Across the U.S.