Improving the Canadian Monitor to Better Communicate Drought Conditions in

Trevor Hadwen and Agri-Food Canada National Agroclimate Information Service Regina, , Canada

16th Annual Climate Prediction Applications Science Workshop Fargo, North Dakota , May 22-24, 2018

What is the National Agroclimate Information Service (NAIS)? NAIS’s focus is climate-related risks to agriculture … • Acquire and process agroclimate data – Timely Climate Monitoring at National & Regional scales • Assess climate-related risks to the agriculture industry – Monitor drought /excess moisture extent and intensity – probabilities, frequencies and changes in weather and climate trends – vulnerability of systems (e.g. watersheds) to climate variability – crop yield forecasting • Develop Information and Tools – drought preparedness and planning – remote sensing, online and other to assist with monitoring and forecasting, risk assessment and decision-support • Communicate climate-related information, risks and options – online, print, industry events, media interviews 2 Responsibility for Drought in Canada

• In Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) National Agroclimate Information Service (NAIS) is responsible for monitoring drought conditions across the county. • AAFC has been providing input for the North American Drought Monitor using a national assessment since 2003. • In 2016, AAFC started publishing the Canadian Drought Monitor on the departmental Drought Watch Website.

3 What is the Canadian Drought Monitor? • The Canadian Drought Monitor (CDM) provides monthly monitoring and reporting on the extent and intensity of drought across Canada. • Uses a science-based “convergence of evidence” approach very similar to the USDM. • The process includes reviewing dozens of data sets and products to come up with an assessment. The assessment then is reviewed by and adjusted by regional experts across the country.

4 Over the past two years, we have focused development on: . more timely and accurate assessments, and . more engagement with our target audience. (reviewers/ clients)

• To accomplish these goals we: – Added to the list of indicators we use – Package data more appropriately for monitoring extremes – Utilize ArcGIS Online tools and web services – Developed ArcGIS Online Editor and Review Applications to improve efficiency and accuracy of assessments – strengthened and expanded visibility using web services and interactive tools - Map story and Drought Analysis tools 5

Improving our Percentiles Products

• Increased number of products – 30, 60 and 90-day datasets now produced • Map legends changed to be more precise in the low and high ends. – now aligned with the Drought Monitor classification. • Now includes stations outside the agricultural zone.

Old Products New Products

6 Canadian VegDRI Products We have been working with the National Drought Mitigation Centre and the USGS for more than 6 years to test and develop a VegDRI system for Canada.

Very recently have produced our first maps. We are continuing with testing, and anticipate regular products will be available on Drought Watch website.

7 Web Services and our Data

• In 2016, AAFC upgraded its agroclimate mapping system. • Upgrades included enabling web services. • The data are easier to use and incorporate within our applications including CDM. • This has significantly increased the efficiency and accuracy of our assessments.

8 Editor Application

• The CDM Editor Application is an ArcOnline Application that allows the CDM authors to edit the assessment of drought in a cloud-based environment. • The application contains the CDM and many of the required maps to assess drought as Web Service layers The benefits: . Increased efficiency . Increased flexibility . Multiple editors . Portable . Easily incorporate web services and outside spatial data 9

Editor Application

10 11 12 13 Review Application

• The Reviewer Application is similar to the Editor Application, but is specifically built for the Canadian team to review the draft assessments and provide comments and suggest edits. – Reviewers are able to draw in polygons or add points with annotations for suggested changes The benefits – Provides a platform for reviewers other than email – Links directly to the Editor Application – Increases precision and accuracy – Increases efficiency

14 Review Application

15 Review Application

16 Drought Analysis Tools

• Various analytical tools have been developed to provide additional content, increased visibility and interactivity and use of our products and data. – Time Slider: slide through historical assessments – Monthly Comparison Tool: compare two CDM maps side by side – Change Maps: view improvement or degradation of drought over a given period of time – Stats and Graphs: allows users to interact with the current and historical CDM data looking at the impact of drought

17 Drought Analysis Tools: Time Slider

18 Drought Analysis Tools: Monthly Comparisons

19 Drought Analysis Tools: Change Maps

20 Drought Analysis Tools: Stats and Graphs

This tool will allow users to interact with the current and historical CDM data looking at the impact of drought on agriculture.

Will be released later in 2018. 21 ESRI Map Journal

• Is an interactive application for enhanced user experience • Utilizes ArcGIS Online story map application to display web maps with narrative text, images and multimedia content • Allows users to view the assessment along with the narrative and provides reference to additional products.

22 ESRI Map Journal

23 ESRI Map Journal

Allows direct and interactive navigation to specific locations

Links to additional NAIS products embedded into the Story Map text

24 Next steps and future priorities

• Continue improving communication and outreach tools • Improve the existing assessment with new indicators and datasets (e.g. VegDRI, EDDI, …) • Better define drought in northern regions in order to include Nunavut and create a cross- Canada drought assessment • Develop a Drought Outlook for Canada

25 Thank you

Trevor Hadwen: [email protected]

National Agroclimate information Service, Agriculture &Agri-Food Canada

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