A drought is a period of unusually persistent dry weather that continues long enough to cause serious problems such as crop damage and/or water supply shortages. Droughts are caused by low precipitation over an extended period of time.

Drought strikes somewhere in the United States every year, turning green landscapes brown as precipitation falls below normal levels and water supplies dwindle. Drought is typically a temporary climatic aberration, but it is also an insidious natural hazard. It might last for weeks, months, or years and may have many negative effects.

Drought is a recurring feature of the climate in most parts of the world, becoming more extreme and less predictable due to climate change, which dendrochronological studies date back to 1900. There are three kinds of drought effects, environmental, economic and social.

Mar 26, 2025 · A drought is caused by drier than normal conditions that can eventually lead to water supply problems. Really hot temperatures can make a drought worse by evaporating moisture from the soil. But droughts don't just happen in hot and dry places.

To help with drought classification and monitoring, scientists have defined several types of drought: When dry weather patterns dominate an area. When low water supply becomes evident in the water system. When crops become affected by drought. When the supply and demand of various commodities is affected by drought.

Nov 13, 2024 · While drought is a naturally occurring part of the weather cycle and cannot be prevented, human activity can influence the effects that drought has on a region. Many modern agricultural practices may make land more vulnerable to drought .

Jul 13, 2023 · Drought is caused by a lack of rainfall, causing serious water shortages. It can be fatal. More specifically, drought is defined by a period of unusually dry weather caused by low rainfall and high temperatures.

Drought can alter or degrade any or all of these functions and services at a local, landscape, or system scale. Flash drought intensifies rapidly due to changes in precipitation, temperature, wind, and radiation. These changes in the weather increase evapotranspiration and lower soil moisture.

Jun 8, 2018 · A drought is a period of drier-than-normal conditions that results in water-related problems. Precipitation (rain or snow) falls in uneven patterns across the country. The amount of precipitation at a particular location varies from year to year, but over a period of years, the average amount is fairly constant.

1 day ago · Drought is a multifaceted and unpredictable climate event with profound effects on ecosystems, communities, and economies. This chapter explores the nature of drought, its origins, and provides definitions tailored to various affected systems. ... which are responsible for the formation of Earth’s arid and semi-arid regions.