New drought maps created for Texas

The record drought in Texas, the worst drought in more than 60 years is now shown by maps made by NASA. These maps which were created on November 29, 2011 show groundwater and the low groundwater is clearly visible over east Texas. Experts believe that even if the state receives lots of winter rains/snow the severely depressed aquifers will still need much more time to fully recharge. Two satellites, NASA's Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) are responsible for collecting the data for the maps. These satellites detect small changes in the planets gravity field, which is caused by the distribution of water. These maps will offer the general public a view that can only be obtained from satellites. The data collected by these satellites will also help water recourse managers and farmers allocate water accordingly, and will also allow the USGS to begin ground based surveys of the region. These maps are a part of both developmental and behavioral paradigms.


http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111130171100.htm