Drought

What is a drought?

What are the types of drought?

What are the effects of drought?

Mitigation of Droughts?
 What is a drought?

The Merriam Webster dictionary defines the term drought as :

“a period of dryness especially when prolonged”

However more geographic terms, a drought can be defined as “when below average amounts of
precipitation
affects the amount of moisture in soil as well as the amount of water in streams, rivers, lakes
and ground water

Unlike sudden weather events such as hurricanes and earthquakes, it is often difficult to pinpoint
exactly when
A drought has both started and ended
• Hydrological Drought

• Meteorological drought
What are the types of drought?
• Agricultural Drought

• Water scarcity
Social Impacts of Drought: Environmental Impacts of Drought:
• Anxiety or depression Losses or destruction of fish and wildlife habitat
• Health problems related to low water flows and poor water quality Lack of food and drinking water for wild animals
• Health problems related to dust Increase in disease in wild animals, because of
• Loss of human life reduced food and water supplies
• Threat to public safety from an increased number of forest and range Migration of wildlife
fires Increased stress on endangered species or even
• Reduced incomes extinction
• People may have to move from farms into cities, or from one city to Lower water levels in reservoirs, lakes, and ponds
another Loss of wetlands
• Fewer recreational activities Wildfires
Wind and water erosion of soils

Economic Impacts of Droughts:

Drought’s economic impact in agriculture
What are the effects of drought? Drought’s economic impact on energy production
Drought’s economic impact on recreation and
tourism
High employment rates
Rise in crime rates
Rise in foreign debt
What factors cause drought?
• Climate drought
• Global warming
• Natural causes
• Excess water demands

Mitigation

• Using prediction processing Mitigation strategies

• Monitoring drought
• Planning ahead

Mitigation of Droughts?