The INTERSUCHO service analyses past and monitors current drought conditions, and explores future trends in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Central Europe. The service involves compiling high-resolution drought indicators and gathering original information about drought impacts through a network of voluntary drought impact reporters. These drought reporters assess the effects of drought within their geographic areas and fields of expertise.

The INTERSUCHO team involves meteorologists, atmospheric physicists, climatologists, historical climatology experts, agroclimatologists, dendrochronologists, eco-physiologists, historians, archivists, and socio-economists, collaborating with satellite data experts. The team leverages previous drought monitoring and research initiatives in the US and collaborates with the European Drought Observatory (EDO), a component of the Copernicus Emergency Service.

The primary research is conducted at the Institute of Global Change Research of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (CzechGlobe), Mendel University in Brno, and Masaryk University. Collaboration extends to include the Czech Hydro-Meteorology Institute (CHMU), Slovak Hydro-Meteorology Institute (SHMU), Slovak Academy of Science (SAV), and agrometeorologists at the Doksany observatory. 

This collaboration was initially initiated through the DriDanube project. The cross-border dimension of this project is the common sharing of data, tools, methodology, innovation and approach of data collection from the local drought reporters.

The primary outcome of this service is a fully functional drought monitoring system equipped with early warning capabilities for local stakeholders. This service integrates data from models and satellite sensors with reports on drought impacts from farmers and foresters. 

The methods and tools employed are replicable in other countries. Additionally, some of the products are already offered at the European and global scale, and the approach of engaging local drought reporters from agriculture and forestry is user-friendly and easily implementable.

Find out more information here!