New Report From Dr. Zachary Hoylman of the Montana Climate Office Urges Updated Drought Assessments for Changing Climate

A national report calls for new drought assessment methods amid shifting climate conditions.

Dr. Zachary Hoylman of the Montana Climate Office co-authored a report for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine that evaluates current drought assessment methods and recommends improvements reflecting climate change. This work addresses structural challenges in how drought risk is measured and understood across the United States.

The committee of 12 researchers nationwide reviewed traditional drought indices, finding many were developed under assumptions of a relatively stable climate. Hoylman’s 2022 Nature Communications study demonstrated these limitations, while a companion paper outlined research priorities incorporating climate science, hydrology, remote sensing, and machine learning. Presentations of the findings continue to NOAA and Department of Commerce leadership to inform federal decision-making.

Ongoing discussions at the national level are exploring these new approaches to drought assessment to better prepare communities for future conditions.

Montana, with its varied landscapes and reliance on water resources, may find these updated assessment methods relevant. As climate change shifts hydroclimatic baselines, Montana businesses and policymakers might potentially benefit from more accurate drought risk evaluations that consider evolving environmental patterns.

Montana Climate Scientist Co-Authors Report on Drought in a Changing Climate
By Cary Shimek, University of Montana