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Lecture 4: Drought
PLAN 471: Natural Hazards and Disaster Management

Prepared by:
Meher Afjun Faria
Lecturer, DURP,BUET.

Acknowledgement:
Ms. Sadia Afroj
Assistant Professor, DURP, BUET.

2 Introduction to Flood

 Prolonged period of dry weather along with insufficient rainfall

 Occurs when evaporation and transpiration exceed the amount
of precipitation for quite some time
 Moisture content of the soil does not remain sufficient for normal
crop growth
 Most often associated with low rainfall and semi-arid climate,
but also occur in areas with normally abundant rainfall

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3 Types of Drought

4 Types of Drought

Duration (Days) Category

<= 30 Very short term
31 to 90 Short-term
91 to 180 Medium-term
Greater than 180 Long-term
Source: Kamruzzaman et al., 2019

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5 Drought in Bangladesh

Year Region
1791 Jessore
1865 Dhaka
1872 Khulna
1874 Bogra
1973 North Bangladesh
1975 North Bangladesh
Except South-east
1978-79
Bangladesh
1989 North-west Bangladesh
1994-95 North-west Bangladesh

6 Drought in Bangladesh

Elevation map of Bangladesh

(Source: Kamruzzaman et al., 2019)

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7 Drought in Bangladesh

Source: Kamruzzaman et al., 2019

8 Causes of Drought

Natural Manmade
 Shortfall of  Reduction of water resources (i.e. stream,
precipitation groundwater, lakes, reservoirs)
 Dryness  Filing waterbodies
 Duration of the dry  Deforestation
period  Over cultivation
 Insufficient soil  Mismanagement of irrigation
moisture  Excessive offtake of water (for domestic,
industrial, irrigation, etc.) compared to
recharge

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9 Impacts of Drought
Direct Indirect
 Agricultural production  Poverty  Food shortage
 Homestead  Industries related to  Increased food
Economic  Loss of livelihood agricultural production prices
 National economic
growth and development
 Damage to animal and  Soil erosion
Environment-
fish species and habitat  Water quality
al
 Damage to plant species  Air quality
 Malnutrition and famine  Migration
 Health problem  Deprived from
Social  Conflicts between water basic needs
users  Criminal activity

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Thank You, and

The End