Drought can also cause long-term public health problems, including: Shortages of drinking water and poor quality drinking water . Impacts on air quality , sanitation and hygiene, and food and nutrition. More disease, such as West Nile Virus carried by mosquitoes breeding in stagnant water.
Why are droughts bad for the environment?
In addition to the economy, drought also affects the environment and society. Plants and animals depend on water, just as people do. Drought can shrink their food supplies and damage their habitats . Sometimes this damage is only temporary, and other times it is irreversible.
Why are droughts bad?
Severe drought conditions can negatively affect air quality . During drought, there is an increased risk for wildfires and dust storms. ... This can make chronic respiratory illnesses worse and increase the risk for respiratory infections like bronchitis and pneumonia.
What are the causes and effects of drought?
The soil starts drying out and plants die . When this pattern continues for several weeks, months or years, the flow of streams and rivers decreases and water levels in lakes, reservoirs and wells fall. Eventually, the unusual dry weather causes water supply issues, and the dry period becomes a drought.
Why are droughts bad for farmers?
The primary direct economic impact of drought in the agricultural sector is crop failure and pasture losses . ... Indirect impacts of drought in the sector can include reduced supplies to downstream industries, such as food processors, and reduced demand for inputs, such as fertilizer and farm labor.
What are the long term effects of drought?
In long-term drought, native plants may die back, allowing for the intrusion of invasive plant species. Invasive plants may further disrupt the balance of an ecosystem, which can cause further conversion of vegetation, increase wildfire risk, and lead to desertification.
What are the main causes of drought?
A lack of water in stores such as rivers, lakes, reservoirs and aquifers (water stored underground naturally) can lead to drought. Areas that rely on rainfall and surface water are more likely to experience drought. Surface water quickly evaporates in warm, dry conditions leading to an increased risk of drought.
What is conclusion of drought?
Droughts are a natural disaster that nobody can stop from coming, but we can prepare for the effects of this natural disaster to make it less difficult. There are many human and natural system impacts that this force of nature costs that we should be aware of.
How can we prevent drought?
Being mindful of the amount of water you use each day can be a powerful way to prevent droughts. Turning off the faucet while you brush your teeth , watering your garden early in the morning so less water evaporates, and installing low-flow plumbing fixtures all are good ways to prevent wasted water.
What season do droughts occur?
Even if the total amount of rainfall for a year is about average, rainfall shortages can occur during a period when moisture is critically needed for plant growth, such as in the early summer . When little or no rain falls, soils can dry out and plants can die.
What are the causes and consequences of droughts and desertification?
Drought and desertification are closely related phenomena. ... Inappropriate land use, such as monocultures, and unsustainable land management practices, such as deforestation , unsuitable agricultural practices and overexploitation of water resources), can cause land degradation that can be further aggravated by drought.
Where does the water go during a drought?
Where does the water go? Water is lost from the soil by evaporation from the soil surface and by transpiration from the leaves of plants. The combination of these two factors is called evapotranspiration. Water is also lost as it drains through the soil beyond the reach of the plant roots.
Who is responsible for drought?
Answer Expert Verified. Human beings are responsible for the drought in Maharashtra in 2016. According to the water conservationist Rajendra Singh, the drought primarily occurred because the Indian Government lacked a serious attitude regarding water security.
What do farmers do when there is a drought?
Farmers can improve their drought resilience by making different crop choices , enrolling in crop insurance and other farm risk management programs, and investing in soil health.
What happens to farmers during drought?
Drought can increase the price of feed and deplete water stores for animals and other farm uses . ... Dry conditions can reduce the ability of dairy farmers to grow feed and can also impact the availability and cost of bought in feed. Drought can also deplete water stores for animals and other farm uses.
Which is the most drought resistant crop?
Staple food crops like sorghum, cassava, sweet potato, pearl millet, cowpea and groundnut are naturally more drought-tolerant than maize. For centuries, farmers in parts of West Africa have grown maize alongside cassava and sweet potatoes.
