Validity of maps

[sigurdur]

Good Evening.
I looked at the drought monitor map for the US. Being the resident of a state, and looking at several locations, one being Bismarck, I noted that they have had twice the "normal" rainfall so far in 2009. Yet, on the map they are on the edge of a drought.

Looking at temperature maps a week or so ago, I noticed discrepancies as well.

Now I question, is there a map that is valid out there? Or are they all cooked to agree with preset notions of what they are suppose to show?

I am very disgusted to say the least, as a government site SHOULD be unbiased and only report facts and let us silly folks out here interpret the maps as we see fit.

This is getting flat out ridiculous!

[icefisher]

Jul 13, 2009 0:54:39 GMT sigurdur said:

Good Evening.
I looked at the drought monitor map for the US. Being the resident of a state, and looking at several locations, one being Bismarck, I noted that they have had twice the "normal" rainfall so far in 2009. Yet, on the map they are on the edge of a drought.

Ever see Chinatown?

[sigurdur]

Good analogy

[curiousgeorge]

An old explorer's adage: "The map is not the territory." Also holds true for models of any kind.

[Belushi TD]

Well, here's the thing...

If the area you were looking at happens to be around Atlanta, Georgia, then it makes sense, because they were undergoing a drought that had lasted for... 2 or three years. A buddy of mine down there said that the reservoirs were seriously down, to less than 20% of capacity.

So, even with double the average rain for the year, they would still be in drought conditions.

Belushi TD

[sigurdur]

Jul 13, 2009 21:40:14 GMT Belushi TD said:

Well, here's the thing...

If the area you were looking at happens to be around Atlanta, Georgia, then it makes sense, because they were undergoing a drought that had lasted for... 2 or three years. A buddy of mine down there said that the reservoirs were seriously down, to less than 20% of capacity.

So, even with double the average rain for the year, they would still be in drought conditions.

Belushi TD

I was looking at ND and know the terrain very well and also where it had been dry. It has been so wet in the area that shows drought that this spring culverts were washed out, all the slews are filled, Mandan even got flooded, and it is protected by the Garrison Dam. Just too much water.

And looking at temp maps earlier, it showed my area to be only -3F or so below normal, yet, the records showed -5.7. That is a huge huge error. And on the temp records, to show most of Canada as not reporting, it only took me five mins to find complete temp records for Canada, and they are free to be used.
So.........something stinks here badly.