Drought
Drought is a natural disaster characterized by a prolonged period of insufficient rainfall, leading to a shortage of water. It can have severe impacts on the environment, agriculture, and the economy, and can also affect human health.
Causes of Drought[edit | edit source]
Drought can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
- Climate change: Changes in global weather patterns can lead to decreased rainfall in certain areas, leading to drought conditions.
- El Niño: This weather phenomenon can cause changes in rainfall patterns, leading to drought in some areas.
- Deforestation: The removal of trees can disrupt the water cycle, leading to decreased rainfall and drought conditions.
Effects of Drought[edit | edit source]
Drought can have a wide range of effects, including:
- Water scarcity: Drought can lead to a shortage of water for drinking, irrigation, and industrial use.
- Crop failure: Without sufficient water, crops can fail, leading to food shortages and economic loss.
- Desertification: Prolonged drought can lead to the degradation of land and the spread of deserts.
- Health effects: Drought can lead to health problems such as dehydration, malnutrition, and disease.
Management and Mitigation[edit | edit source]
There are several strategies for managing and mitigating the effects of drought, including:
- Water conservation: This involves using water more efficiently and reducing waste.
- Drought-tolerant crops: These are crops that can survive with less water, helping to ensure food security during drought conditions.
- Rainwater harvesting: This involves collecting and storing rainwater for use during periods of drought.
- Desalination: This is the process of removing salt from seawater to make it suitable for drinking and irrigation.
See Also[edit | edit source]
Drought Resources | ||
---|---|---|
|
|
Translate to: East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Admin, Prab R. Tumpati, MD