Use Case 5 demonstrates how satellite‑based drought indicators can support agricultural monitoring by integrating vegetation, soil‑moisture and meteorological anomalies with crop‑type information. The workflow relies on the Drought Indices service, which produces a suite of drought‑related indicators derived from Earth Observation data and climatic time‑series analysis. These include standardised precipitation and soil‑moisture anomalies, vegetation indices such as FAPAR anomaly, and crop masks generated using WorldCereal, which provides seasonally updated information on crop type and agricultural practices.
A key output is the Combined Drought Index (CDI), which merges meteorological, moisture and vegetation anomalies to characterise drought intensity and its potential stress on vegetation. CDI values are adjusted using global drought references to enhance interpretability. Together, these products allow users to assess drought conditions for specific crops or regions, supporting preparedness, agricultural decision‑making and the early identification of areas at risk.
Area of application: Paraguay
Composite drought index derived from combination of Earth Observation based drought and vegetation indexes, over Bolivia. Legend: Qualitative classes of Watch, Warning and Alert. Credits: CIMA Foundation and SENAMHI
