From KlimaNachrichten

By Frank Bosse

We had already reported on the move. Between June 10, 2025, and June 25, 2025, the methodology there was changed. Previously, we had to find considerable contradictions between the monitor and other data sources. As late as April 2025, we came to devastating verdicts, reality was portrayed far too dryly.

So now the changeover. What effects did that have? As is well known, the Internet does not forget anything and so the result for the topsoil (up to 25 cm depth, immensely important for agriculture) before and after the “conversion” is compared:

What a contrast within just over 2 weeks! If you can still see devastating drought in the left picture (09.6.2025) (as only every 50 (!) years) in the topsoil in large parts of northern Germany, so there is nothing more to be noticed in the right image (25.6.2025). The garish and alarming red tones have largely disappeared. While Bremen was hardly recognizable in the “arid landscape” at the beginning of June, on June 25 there is no longer any sign of “severe drought”, and the city-state is clearly visible. And this despite the fact that it rained only slightly below normal over June.

The “miraculous change of method” really worked wonders!

A comparison of the last data (top) with those of the DWD’s “Soil Moisture Viewer” (bottom) at this depth:

Has our continued criticism at the UFZ also borne fruit? We don’t know. What we can say so far: The drought monitor has improved with the “version change” in such a way that it is no longer in stark contrast to other data sources. The comparison with the monthly precipitation deviation in “Kachelmannwetter“

shows that the better way has now been taken by the “Drought Monitor”.

We are happy to write that at this point. Because the data is simply better mapped now.

And that, not “propaganda compatibility” should be the point!