Drought: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Drought.jpg|300px|thumb|Figure 1. | [[Category: Rudi grade Ashley edit]] | ||
<onlyinclude>A '''drought''' is a deficiency of [[precipitation]] over an extended period of time, relative to the region's typical precipitation levels.</onlyinclude> Its impacts vary from region to region which makes it difficult to define exactly what determines a drought. This is because certain places are used to not receiving much precipitation, while some places might rely on lots of precipitation. Therefore droughts depend on the demand that people place on their [[water]] supply, and the impacts that come as a result of its absence.<ref name=drou>National Drought Mitigation Center. (accessed September 27, 2015). ''What is Drought?'' [Online], Available: http://drought.unl.edu/DroughtBasics/WhatisDrought.aspx</ref> | [[File:Drought.jpg|300px|thumb|Figure 1. Dessication cracks in dry earth due to drought.<ref>Wikimedia Commons [Online], Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e1/Drought.jpg</ref>]] | ||
<onlyinclude>A '''drought''' is a deficiency of [[precipitation]] over an extended period of time, relative to the region's typical precipitation levels.</onlyinclude> Its impacts vary from region to region which makes it difficult to define exactly what determines a drought. This is because certain places are used to not receiving much precipitation, while some places might rely on lots of precipitation. Therefore droughts depend on the demand that people place on their [[water]] supply, and the impacts that come as a result of its absence (Figure 1).<ref name=drou>National Drought Mitigation Center. (accessed September 27, 2015). ''What is Drought?'' [Online], Available: http://drought.unl.edu/DroughtBasics/WhatisDrought.aspx</ref> | |||
==Classifications and effects== | ==Classifications and effects== | ||
There are | There are four basic measures of drought, all of which stem from a shortage of precipitation:<ref name=type>National Drought Mitigation Center. (accessed October 18, 2015). ''Types of Drought'' [Online], Available: http://drought.unl.edu/DroughtBasics/TypesofDrought.aspx</ref> | ||
===Meteorological drought=== | ===Meteorological drought=== | ||
Meteorological drought is typically concerned with the '''dryness''' of the drought, along with its duration. It is measured relative to the region's average rainfall. It is often only useful for analyzing locations with consistent year-round rainfall patterns.<ref name=type/> | |||
===Agricultural drought=== | ===Agricultural drought=== | ||
[[File:Huntington_Desert_Garden_Cactus_(etc).jpg|230px|thumb|Figure 2. Certain plants are well-adapted to dry conditions.<ref>Wikimedia Commons [Online], Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c2/Huntington_Desert_Garden_Cactus_%28etc%29.jpg</ref>]] | [[File:Huntington_Desert_Garden_Cactus_(etc).jpg|230px|thumb|Figure 2. Certain plants are well-adapted to dry conditions.<ref>Wikimedia Commons [Online], Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c2/Huntington_Desert_Garden_Cactus_%28etc%29.jpg</ref>]] | ||
Agricultural drought is concerned with the impacts a drought could have on a region's agriculture. Although rainfall is important to keep track of, the variable of most concern is '''soil moisture levels'''.<Ref name=usgs>USGS. (Accessed October 18, 2015). ''California Drought Information'' [Online], Available: http://ca.water.usgs.gov/data/drought/</ref> The | Agricultural drought is concerned with the impacts a drought could have on a region's agriculture. Although rainfall amount is important to keep track of, the variable of most concern is '''soil moisture levels'''.<Ref name=usgs>USGS. (Accessed October 18, 2015). ''California Drought Information'' [Online], Available: http://ca.water.usgs.gov/data/drought/</ref> The affected plants are also important in the classification of such a drought, because many plants can survive with less water depending on their stage of growth (Figure 2). It is often during a plant's early growth stages that water is the most crucial, so if the soil moisture is sufficient during this stage, the drought's impacts may be lessened. | ||
===Hydrologic drought=== | ===Hydrologic drought=== | ||
[[File:droughtwater.jpg|230px|thumb|Figure 3. Reservoir affected by drought.<ref>Geograph.org. (Accessed October 18, 2015). Copyright Lynne Kirton and licensed for reuse under this [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/ Creative Commons license], Available: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/84546</ref>]] | [[File:droughtwater.jpg|230px|thumb|Figure 3. Reservoir affected by drought.<ref>Geograph.org. (Accessed October 18, 2015). Copyright Lynne Kirton and licensed for reuse under this [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/ Creative Commons license], Available: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/84546</ref>]] | ||
Hydrologic drought is most concerned with the effects that lessened rainfall has on '''water supply'''. Stream, river, lake, groundwater and reservoir levels are important as deficiencies can impact the local or regional [[hydrologic cycle]].<ref name=usgs/> These droughts are usually out of phase with meteorological and agricultural droughts | Hydrologic drought is most concerned with the effects that lessened rainfall has on '''water supply'''. Stream, river, lake, groundwater, and reservoir levels are important as deficiencies can impact the local or regional [[hydrologic cycle]](Figure 3).<ref name=usgs/> These droughts are usually out of phase with meteorological and agricultural droughts. They often occur at a later time than the other droughts, since water must find its way from the surface into these bodies of water. This may have negative effects on the economy and society because there may be food shortages due to drought at one time, and drinking water and [[electricity]] (if produced by [[hydroelectric facilities]]) shortages at another.<ref name=type/> | ||
===Socioeconomic drought=== | ===Socioeconomic drought=== | ||
This type associates the effects of the previous 3 mentioned droughts with the supply and demand of certain economic goods. All | This type associates the effects of the previous 3 mentioned droughts with the supply and demand of certain economic goods. All three droughts hinder various goods from being produced, and if these goods are in high demand there are numerous consequences. Such goods include fish, grains, [[hydroelectricity]] and the water itself. | ||
==Climate change effects on drought== | ==Climate change effects on drought== | ||
Effects of [[global warming]] and [[climate change]] on drought are of great concern. Many scientists agree on future climate models | Effects of [[global warming]] and [[climate change]] on drought are of great concern. Many scientists agree on future climate models where the global hydrologic cycle intensifies. It is expected that global precipitation could increase by 7% to 15%.<ref name=cc>National Drought Mitigation Center. (accessed October 18, 2015). ''Climate Change'' [Online], Available: http://drought.unl.edu/DroughtBasics/ClimateChange.aspx</ref> | ||
It might seem counter-intuitive that an increase in global rainfall will cause droughts, however an increase in rainfall and [[temperature]]s means an increase in [[evapotranspiration]]. Climate models generally show mid-continent regions as having more evapotranspiration than rainfall, which could result in long, severe droughts. With increased rainfall also comes the potential for [[flood]]s, which could be experienced by the same regions that experience drought. | It might seem counter-intuitive that an increase in global rainfall will cause droughts, however an increase in rainfall and [[temperature]]s means an increase in [[evapotranspiration]]. Climate models generally show mid-continent regions as having more evapotranspiration than rainfall, which could result in long, severe droughts. With increased rainfall also comes the potential for [[flood]]s, which could be experienced by the same regions that experience drought. | ||
For more information on climate change effects on drought visit the [https://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/wg2/en/ch3s3-4-3.html IPCC here]. | For more information on climate change effects on drought visit the [https://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/wg2/en/ch3s3-4-3.html IPCC here]. | ||
==For Further Reading== | |||
*[[Precipitation]] | |||
*[[Water]] | |||
*[[Temperature]] | |||
*[[Climate]] | |||
*[[Global warming]] | |||
*Or explore a [[Special:Random|random page]] | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
[[category: Ed edit]] | [[category: Ed edit]][[Category:Uploaded]] | ||
Revision as of 21:08, 15 November 2018
A drought is a deficiency of precipitation over an extended period of time, relative to the region's typical precipitation levels. Its impacts vary from region to region which makes it difficult to define exactly what determines a drought. This is because certain places are used to not receiving much precipitation, while some places might rely on lots of precipitation. Therefore droughts depend on the demand that people place on their water supply, and the impacts that come as a result of its absence (Figure 1).[2]
Classifications and effects
There are four basic measures of drought, all of which stem from a shortage of precipitation:[3]
Meteorological drought
Meteorological drought is typically concerned with the dryness of the drought, along with its duration. It is measured relative to the region's average rainfall. It is often only useful for analyzing locations with consistent year-round rainfall patterns.[3]
Agricultural drought
.jpg)
Agricultural drought is concerned with the impacts a drought could have on a region's agriculture. Although rainfall amount is important to keep track of, the variable of most concern is soil moisture levels.[5] The affected plants are also important in the classification of such a drought, because many plants can survive with less water depending on their stage of growth (Figure 2). It is often during a plant's early growth stages that water is the most crucial, so if the soil moisture is sufficient during this stage, the drought's impacts may be lessened.
Hydrologic drought
Hydrologic drought is most concerned with the effects that lessened rainfall has on water supply. Stream, river, lake, groundwater, and reservoir levels are important as deficiencies can impact the local or regional hydrologic cycle(Figure 3).[5] These droughts are usually out of phase with meteorological and agricultural droughts. They often occur at a later time than the other droughts, since water must find its way from the surface into these bodies of water. This may have negative effects on the economy and society because there may be food shortages due to drought at one time, and drinking water and electricity (if produced by hydroelectric facilities) shortages at another.[3]
Socioeconomic drought
This type associates the effects of the previous 3 mentioned droughts with the supply and demand of certain economic goods. All three droughts hinder various goods from being produced, and if these goods are in high demand there are numerous consequences. Such goods include fish, grains, hydroelectricity and the water itself.
Climate change effects on drought
Effects of global warming and climate change on drought are of great concern. Many scientists agree on future climate models where the global hydrologic cycle intensifies. It is expected that global precipitation could increase by 7% to 15%.[7]
It might seem counter-intuitive that an increase in global rainfall will cause droughts, however an increase in rainfall and temperatures means an increase in evapotranspiration. Climate models generally show mid-continent regions as having more evapotranspiration than rainfall, which could result in long, severe droughts. With increased rainfall also comes the potential for floods, which could be experienced by the same regions that experience drought.
For more information on climate change effects on drought visit the IPCC here.
For Further Reading
- Precipitation
- Water
- Temperature
- Climate
- Global warming
- Or explore a random page
References
- ↑ Wikimedia Commons [Online], Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e1/Drought.jpg
- ↑ National Drought Mitigation Center. (accessed September 27, 2015). What is Drought? [Online], Available: http://drought.unl.edu/DroughtBasics/WhatisDrought.aspx
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 National Drought Mitigation Center. (accessed October 18, 2015). Types of Drought [Online], Available: http://drought.unl.edu/DroughtBasics/TypesofDrought.aspx
- ↑ Wikimedia Commons [Online], Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c2/Huntington_Desert_Garden_Cactus_%28etc%29.jpg
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 USGS. (Accessed October 18, 2015). California Drought Information [Online], Available: http://ca.water.usgs.gov/data/drought/
- ↑ Geograph.org. (Accessed October 18, 2015). Copyright Lynne Kirton and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons license, Available: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/84546
- ↑ National Drought Mitigation Center. (accessed October 18, 2015). Climate Change [Online], Available: http://drought.unl.edu/DroughtBasics/ClimateChange.aspx
