Using the CoCoRaHS Network to Improve Drought Monitoring and Reporting

The Carolinas Integrated Sciences and Assessments (CISA) developed an experimental method of drought monitoring and reporting by citizen scientists. This method of condition monitoring encourages CoCoRaHS volunteers to submit regular reports about the effects of local precipitation on the environment and society, creating a baseline against which to assess change through time (i.e., seasonally, with varying levels of precipitation). It also allows for assessment of the impacts of wet as well as dry conditions, which can help with flood hazard mitigation and other water-related impacts.