Droughts By: Adriana Martin
__________________________________________________________ 1.- GENERAL INFORMATION 1.1.- What is a Drought? A drought is a physical phenomenon that happens very slowly over time. We can think of drought as a lack or not enough rain or snow for some time. As a consequence, crops and the amount of water in rivers and streams are severely affected, and there is less food and less drinking water available. According to the UK Center for Ecology and Hydrology, “drought can be one of the worst natural disasters, posing a real and continuing threat to lives and livelihoods.” Drought is so powerful and dangerous that it could even last for months, years, or as little as 15 days.
Diagram of a drought made by me where we can observe an underground layer with a lack of water.
1.2.- Why do droughts happen? Drought happens when there is no or little rain over a while, and there are a few factors that may cause them: 1.- Climate change: The emission of greenhouse gases from factories in the air makes the air temperatures to be higher, and more moisture from land, rivers, and lakes evaporate. Higher temperatures also increase evaporation in plant soils, and their life is affected, which reduces the chances of rainfall.
2.- Deforestation: Trees are crucial in the process of rain formation because, during photosynthesis, they take the water from the soil and create food for them. The excess of water taken by the trees is released through their leaves into the air, clouds form and return the moisture to the ground as rain. Therefore, without trees, there are more dry conditions.
1.3.- Where, when, and why do droughts occur? Droughts are a common natural disaster that can take place at any time. They occur because there is no rain for a long period of time. Nowadays, droughts may happen in most parts of the world. Africa is the region most commonly affected by droughts: Ethiopia, Sudan, Eritrea, Uganda,
Somalia, and Morocco. Other regions that are usually affected by droughts: China, Pakistan, and Iran. Droughts can also occur in the Midwest of the US and even Spain. The worst drought in Spain happened in 2012, where the rainfall decreased by 75%! There was no water in the houses, so people had to get some from water trucks. Each family was only allowed to get 5 liters of water per day. The following two pictures represent what happened in Spain:
The United States is also affected by droughts and dust storms. In 1930, many dust storms seriously damaged the agriculture in the country. According to the National Climatic Data Center, around ten states were affected, and millions of people moved to other places.
2.- TYPES OR CATEGORIES OF DROUGHTS 2.1.- What are the different types of droughts? There are four different types of droughts that could occur: 1.- Meteorological: This drought occurs when there is a long dry period without rain or even snow. In other words, there is a lack of precipitation. The duration of this type of drought is not the same in each region.
2.- Hydrological: Also called ‘the drinking water type of drought’ happens when there is a lack of rain for a long time a specific area, and as a consequence, there is no water or the level of the water decreases in lakes and reservoirs.
in
3.- Agricultural: there is a lack of rain during the crop growth cycle, and therefore, there is no moisture in the soil where the crops grow. It mostly affects farmers because the crop will be negatively affected. Research shows that due to climate change, agricultural droughts are increasing dramatically.
4.- Socioeconomic: It happens when there is not enough food supply because crops have been affected by the lack of rain and many people want to buy it. As a consequence, the price of those crops increases, and affects us, customers. Socioeconomic drought also means that there is not enough drinking and running water.
Droughts can also be classified as: 1.- Permanent drought: Take place in very dry climates such as deserts and steppes. Agriculture is not possible without continuous drainage. The picture below is from the Sonora desert in Mexico:
2.- Seasonal drought: Happens in climates where the annual rain and dry seasons are well established. Agriculture is adjusted so the crops can grow during the rainy season. 3.- Unpredictable drought: can occur almost anywhere because of an abnormal lack of rain.
3.- EFFECTS OF THE EXTREME WEATHER CONDITION 3.1.- What damages do droughts cause? Droughts can cause many problems in different ways. They directly affect the availability of drinking water and food (crops), leading to economic and social disasters such as famine, people from affected areas leaving to other countries and people staying struggling and having conflicts with limited resources left (water and food). In the long run, droughts can have severe effects on plants and animals because they also depend on water. Sometimes the damages of a drought are only temporary, but sometimes it can last for a long time or even forever. In that case, animals may die too because there is no food and water, fish may disappear, wild animals may get diseases, etc. Data shows that since 1900, more than 2 billion people were affected by drought, and 11 million people died. Examples of damages made by droughts and their effects: -
In 1967 in Japan, rice and soybeans were heavily affected, so prices in their base food, especially rice, increase dramatically. - In 1933 in South Dakota, a large powerful dust storm made people migrate to another place because there was no water to drink, no food to eat.
In 2018 in India, a tough dust storm killed lots of trees, damaged plants, and crops, destroyed buildings, and killed more -
than 100 people. The worst drought that happened in India was in 1770 and one-third of the population died.
-
In South Africa, a severe drought that lasted for 40 years in South Africa led people starving because they had no food to eat and no water to drink.
-
In 1995 in Chicago, a drought killed more than 600 people.
-
In the Yunnan Province in China, the ongoing drought made families transport water from more than 10 kilometers so they could survive.
-
In 2005, Amazon suffered the worst drought in 100 years, and people could not transport food because the river decreased considerably, and there was a risk of deforestation.
The following picture represents a map of the world where droughts occur and the power they have. In red color means that the drought-hit the area very high and in green color low:
4.- ​NEWS STORY 4.1.- A true story involving damage or concern about drought. (Where? When? What happened?) In 1983 and 1984, Spain had one of the worst droughts in the past 50 years. Many of the lakes and ponds that usually provided water to cities and villages were down to the red alarm of a 10% level of water. In the beginning, several measures were taken to reduce water usage. Some of them were quite innovative, such as putting plastic bottles filled with sand inside the toilet so the water used when flushing was reduced by half or even one third. Other measures were to stop watering the plants and gardens so often. The significant measure was not allowing water for swimming pools, which in the middle of the summer in Spain with 40°C was a killer for many kids like my dad and other family members. However, those measures were not enough, and more drastic measures were required. One of the measures was to stop all running water for houses and private buildings. Another drastic measure was to only allow 5 liters of water per family. In order to ensure the correct disposal of the water, the army was deployed in the region of Avila were part of my family comes from. The army provided the water trucks, and the families had to make long lines to get the daily ration of water. My father, who lived through that summer, said that there were challenging times. Not having water at home was difficult to perform any normal daily routines we always take for granted, such as taking a bath/shower, washing clothes, washing dishes, or even cleaning your teeth. My father also told me that the price of drinking water increased dramatically to the level of being as expensive as petrol!
5.- HOW TO PREDICT THIS EXTREME WEATHER CONDITION 5.1.- How do scientists study and predict droughts? Some droughts can be predicted, and sometimes they can even be predicted up to one month before they happen and in only a few cases up to one year in advance. There are many factors involved in a drought: soil moisture, interactions between air, land, and ocean, atmosphere, etc. To be able to predict droughts means that scientists need to predict all those factors. Therefore, they try hard by using mathematical methods to create models and collect as much data as they can to forecast them. They also keep people informed through websites https://www.drought.gov. The National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center publishes each month a drought outlook to provide a forecast for the following month for fifty states and Puerto Rico.
Also, the US Drought Monitor provides weekly drought conditions of the country.
6.- ​SAFETY PRECAUTIONS 6.1.- What can we do to stay safe from a drought? The best way to stay safe when a drought occurs is to save as much water as possible before it finally disappears due to the drought. For example, not flushing all the time the toilet, do the laundry with the washing machine full of clothes, take short showers and never take baths, and close the running water while brushing your teeth. I found out that turning off the water while brushing your teeth can save more than 100 gallons of water in a month! It is also important to follow the water restrictions of the area affected. Farmers can also save water by using new inventions such as sprinkler irrigation systems that help to reduce the amount of water used by spraying it with less force so it does not blow away. People that have a garden can use these systems too. The businessman is starting to recycling water used in their manufacturing process Before the drought happens, it is also a helpful tip to check the good pump so there are no leaks, if you like plants try to have those who do not need too much water and do not buy toys that work with water. Ah! And if you have a pool it will be good to install a water-saving filter.
6.2.- How can you make a drought leave, and where does the water go? The drought problem can be solved by planting crops that can hold and do not need too much water. For example, instead of planting rice, it is better to plant cotton. Instead of raising animals that consume a lot of water, it is better to raise animals that do not need a lot of water for living, such as chickens, rabbits, and pigs. Policies to conserve water are also important. In the long run, to avoid droughts, we need to educate young people and raise more awareness to stop climate change. People like Greta Thunberg, a teenager activist on climate change who is followed by many people worldwide, is an example to follow.
7.- ​FUN FACTS -
Because droughts are measured in many different ways, there is not a drought definition that everybody agrees with.
-
There is a 13 Galloon Challenge online, and we can challenge our friends to do it.
-
Scientists look at how thick are the rings of a tree because thick rings mean that the tree had
enough water to grow so they can get information about historical droughts.
Sources Library Database Sources: Buonanduci, M. (2019, April 27). Dust Bowl. Retrieved December 5, 2019, from https://editors.eol.org/eoearth/wiki/Dust_Bowl. Gibbens, S. (2018, May 3). Why This Dust Storm in India Turned Deadly. Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2018/05/india-dust-storm-wind-fatalities-science-spd/.
E-Books: Corbett, S. (2016). Heatwaves. [New York, N.Y.]: [Smartbook Media].
Websites: 11 Facts About Droughts. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-droughts Author, G. (2018). Why Do Droughts Happen? — Causes, Effects, and 7 Ways to Help, Retrieved from https://get-green-now.com/why-do-droughts-happen/ Amazon Drought Worst in 100 Years. (2019). Retrieved from http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/oct2005/2005-10-24-05.html Drought | Weather Wiz Kids. (2019). Retrieved 6 December 2019, from http://www.weatherwizkids.com/?page_id=89 Drought, Description & Kinds. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/science/drought
Drought | Ready.gov. (2019), Retrieved from https://www.ready.gov/drough Drought: Everything You Need to Know. (2019). Retrieved 7 December 2019, from https://www.nrdc.org/stories/drought-everything-you-need-know Dust Storm Kills 5 In Uttar Pradesh, Damaged Property. ( 2019). Retrieved from https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/dust-storm-kills-5-in-uttar-pradesh-damages-property-1409420 In-depth, D., & Drought, T. (2019). Types of Drought. Retrieved from https://drought.unl.edu/Education/DroughtIn-depth/TypesofDrought.aspx National Geographic Society. “Drought.” National Geographic Society, 12 Sept. 2013, Retrieved from www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/drought/.
Rodgers, A. I. (2013, September 12). “drought.” Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/drought/. What is a drought?. (2011). Retrieved from https://www.ceh.ac.uk/news-and-media/blogs/what-is-a-drought Why Drought Is the Biggest Climate Change Worry for Most Americans. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.thebalance.com/drought-definition-effects-examples-and-solutions-4157896 What Can Trees Tell Us About Climate Change? NASA Climate Kids. (2019). Retrieved from https://climatekids.nasa.gov/tree-rings/
Videos: Bucket, Greenman. “80s Climate Scientists Predict Drought and Political Tension in the Mideast.” YouTube, 2 Mar. 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iKF-hWUOHk. OP, Luis. “Droughts by Nat Geo.” Luis OP, 6 Aug. 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=gv66U4tnO3M.
Photos: Drought Kapil, S., ( 2019, June 17 ) More than 44% of India now suffers, R etrieved from 6, December 2019, from https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/climate-change/drought-watch-more-than-44-of-india-now-suffers-65 127
Climate change Bratislava, S, ( October 4, 2019 ), Slovnaft will invest EUR 600,000 in new stations measuring air pollutants, Retrieved from https://bratislavaden.sk/slovnaft-investuje-600-tisic-eur-do-novych-stanic-merajucich-znecistujuce-latky-v-o vzdusi/
Deforestation Pixabay ( October 26, 2019 ) The world's forests shrank by 3 % between 1990 and 2015, R etrieved from https://phys.org/news/2017-11-carbon-forest-destruction.html
Drought in Spain Global climate team ( January 17, 2018 ) Changes in the World, Europe, R etrieved from https://ourglobalclimate.com/drought-in-spain/
Befor and After Drought in Spain Correa, M ( December 26, 2017 ) España y la peor sequía de la historia: las claves para saber qué está pasando con el agua, Retrived from https://www.bioguia.com/entretenimiento/espana-y-la-peor-sequia-de-la-historia-las-claves-para-saber-que-e sta-pasando-con-el-agua_29290449.html
People Taking Water from Water Trucks in Spain Llorente, E, ( February 19, 1984 ) Vecinos de Barrado hacen cola para coger agua del camión cisterna, Retrieved from https://www.hoy.es/extremadura/tres-municipios-beben-20170828001003-ntvo.html
Dust storm 1 Franklin, D, ( May 6, 1935 ) Dust storm, Retrieved from https://drought.unl.edu/dustbowl/Home.aspx
Meteorological Drought Welsh, K, ( 5 January 2009 ) meteorological drought, Retrieved from https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-dried-river-bed-during-drought-23484806.html?
Hydrological Drought Satg, ( Mar 20, 2018 ) HYDROLOGICAL DROUGHT OF THE SHABELLE RIVER AND ITS ECONOMIC IMPACT TO LOWER SHABELLE FARMERS, Retrieved from https://satg.org/hydrological-drought-of-the-shabelle-river-and-its-economic-impact-to-lower-shabelle-farme rs/
Socioeconomic Drought Acosta, M, ( February 28, 2018 ) Dynamics of socioeconomic exposure, vulnerability, and impacts of recent droughts in Argentina, Retrieved from https://desertification.wordpress.com/2019/04/12/dynamics-of-socioeconomic-exposure-vulnerability-and-i mpacts-of-recent-droughts-in-argentina/
Agricultural Drought YS, T. (2015). Madhya Pradesh to assure minimum income to farmers in case of crop damage. R etrieved from https://yourstory.com/2015/06/madhya-pradesh-farmers
Permanent Drought Castelazo, T ( no date ) Permanent drought in the Sonoran Desert, Mexico, Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/science/permanent-drought
Animals in Dust storms
Flickr, J, ( no date ) Cattle farm near Walkaway, Western Australia, R etrieved from https://www.nrdc.org/stories/drought-everything-you-need-know
Dust Storm 2 George, E ( April 18, 1935 ) A dust storm approaches Stratford, Texas, in 1935, Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dust_Bowl#/media/File:Dust-storm-Texas-1935.png
Dust storm 3 Anonymouse ( 1930 ) Sand storm from the “ dust bowl” days in 1930, Retrieved from https://www.pinterest.com/pin/61994932340576300/
Map 1 Dauphin, L ( 14 June 2018 ) North India dust storms, Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Indian_dust_storms#/media/File:North_India_dust_vir_2018165.jpg
Map 2 Robinson, W ( 1984 ) Global Dust Potential Map, Retrieved from https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Global-Assessment-of-Sand-and-Dust-Storms-Shepherd-Terradellas /612500255ef325c3d2b5b6926d9c55cd18ad5d90/figure/0
The U.S. Drought Monthly Fan, Y, ( November 30, 2019 ) U.S. Monthly Drought Outlook, Retrieved from https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/expert_assessment/month_drought.png
U.S. Drought Monitor Sanchez, A ( December 5, 2019 ), U.S. Drought Monitor, R etrieved from https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/ Asun, G ( July 6, 2010 ) Cerca de 40.000 hogares en el Medio rural tienen problemas de presión en la red por averías o fugas, Retrieved from https://www.diariodeleon.es/articulo/afondo/diputacion-repartio-2009-casi-14-millones-litros-cisternas-18-p ueblos/201007060400001113562.html
Tree Rings Domain, P ( no date ) The thickness of tree rings can tell scientists about historical droughts over the hundreds of years of a tree's life, Retrieved from https://scijinks.gov/what-causes-a-drought/