What the study found
Organisations with forecasting systems or Drought Management Plans (DMPs), which are plans for managing drought risk, responded to the 2022 European drought earlier and judged their responses more effective. The study also reports that many respondents updated drought planning after the 2018 European drought.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors say the findings point to the need for continent-wide drought risk management coordination that brings together climatic and societal factors. They conclude that a Drought Directive could help support more sustainable and holistic drought risk management.
What the researchers tested
The researchers used a Europe-wide survey of 481 respondents across 30 countries, together with hydroclimatic data from the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), a measure of drought conditions. They assessed how forecasting systems and DMPs affected the timing and perceived effectiveness of drought responses, and how experience from the 2018 drought shaped later practices and perceptions.
What worked and what didn't
The study found that organisations with forecasting systems implemented drought response measures on average two months earlier than those without such systems. Organisations with DMPs did so on average one month earlier than those without DMPs, and both groups rated their responses higher in effectiveness. The abstract also says 35% of respondents introduced or updated their DMPs after the 2018 drought.
What to keep in mind
The available summary does not describe detailed limitations beyond the survey-based design and the focus on Europe. The findings are based on self-reported survey responses combined with SPEI data, so the abstract does not provide further information about uncertainty or causality.
Key points
- Forecasting systems were linked with drought responses that started about two months earlier on average.
- Drought Management Plans were linked with responses that started about one month earlier on average.
- Organisations with forecasting systems or DMPs rated their drought responses as more effective.
- 35% of respondents said they introduced or updated their DMPs after the 2018 drought.
- The authors call for continent-wide drought risk management coordination and mention a possible Drought Directive.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Forecasting systems and Drought Management Plans improved drought response timing
- Authors:
- Riccardo Biella, Anastasiya Shyrokaya, Ilias Pechlivanidis, Daniela Cid, María Carmen Llasat, Faranak Tootoonchi, Marthe Wens, Marleen Lam, Elin Stenfors, Samuel Sutanto, Elena Ridolfi, Serena Ceola, Pedro Henrique Lima Alencar, Giuliano Di Baldassarre, Monica Ionita, Mariana Madruga de Brito, Scott J. McGrane, Benedetta Moccia, Viorica Nagavciuc, Fabio Russo, Svitlana Krakovska, Andrijana Todorovic, Patricia Trambauer, Raffaele Vignola, Claudia Teutschbein
- Institutions:
- Uppsala University, Centre of Natural Hazards and Disaster Science, Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, Universitat de Barcelona, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Wageningen University & Research, Sapienza University of Rome, University of Bologna, Technische Universität Berlin, Ştefan cel Mare University of Suceava, Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, University of Strathclyde, Stanford University, State Institution National Antarctic Scientific Center, Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Institute, University of Belgrade, Deltares, Institute of Forest Ecology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences
- Publication date:
- 2026-02-27
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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