Drought is a slow-onset natural hazard that impacts people, animals, and the environment over longer periods than other types of weather events like hurricanes or tornadoes. Because of this, droughts are difficult to predict and track.
Drought is defined by a period of below-normal precipitation, which leads to depleted water resources including rivers, lakes and reservoirs as well as groundwater systems like aquifers. It can also be caused by human activities, such as land-use changes and dam construction, or by climate change.
There are many different types of drought. The type of drought that matters most to you depends on what you do and where you live. For example, farmers are concerned about agricultural drought, urban planners and water managers focus on hydrological drought, and ranchers care about ecological drought.
During droughts, water demand often outweighs supply, leading to a lack of available drinking and irrigation water. This is particularly true in areas where intensive agriculture and population spikes are occurring, or where water is being extracted upstream from rivers for irrigation or other uses. Droughts are exacerbated by climate patterns such as El Nino and La Nina, which can lead to dry conditions in different parts of the world.
A drought can affect all aspects of life, but its impact is most acute for people who depend on water as their primary source of income and food. In addition, the famine and food insecurity that accompany droughts can have devastating effects on health.
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