Understanding Drought: Hydrology, Meteorology & Economics

Drought is known as the prolonged period with water shortages in a whole region or area, both surface, atmospheric and underground water below normal precipitation. Drought can even last for years or months. Drought can be defined through the help of three fields, such as hydrology, meteorology, and economy, concerning water resources. From a hydrologic perspective, drought is associated with dry spells on the surface. In this context, the hydrologic drought is concerned with the influence on river basins. The meteorological aspect defines drought as the duration of the dry period or the degree of dryness when the water is below the normal precipitation (Schimel, 2018). The socio-economic definition of drought gives effects of droughts based on socio-economic features about agricultural, meteorological, and hydrological drought. The agricultural drought takes place when the depletion of soil moisture occurs in a way that pasture yields and crops are profoundly affected. It is quite important to understand the term drought, its causes, and effects to be able to control it where possible. For example, there are economic activities that can cause drought; hence it is important to know in advance and prevent its occurrence in any way possible. Drought is a natural disaster with severe effects on livings things and the physical environment.

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Drought affects living beings, such as human beings and the physical environment negatively. Human beings and livestock starve and die due to a lack of food. Drought destroys all farm yields leaving behind nothing to eat. Famine is a result of the drought, which forces living beings to live a difficult life due to severe conditions. It also interferes with demographic statistics due to the increased deaths of people. Living beings require water to live, and without it, they suffer a lot.

In some cases, they are forced to migrate from their land in search of water and food (Schimel, 2018). Some diseases are associated with drought due to malnutrition. Drought has various effects on the physical environment due to water shortages on the surface, atmosphere, and underground. Water basins dry up hence cutting down water supply since they are mainly the sources of water. Soil erosion is likely to occur during the droughts due to loose soil on land, leaving the land bare and infertile. It causes climate change patterns, for instance, the temperature increase, snowmelt runoff, and precipitation changes, among others. Drought also causes global warming affecting living beings hugely. Seasons are interfered with; hence farmers find it difficult to track down their planting and harvesting periods.

Sustainability is important in promoting the environment concerning the drought. Sustainable development is regarded as a global solution to rising drought issues. It is important to prevent the depletion of natural resources since they are important in sustaining lives and climate. Management of plastic waste is an essential sustainable method about drought since it prevents contamination of the environment. For instance, the United States has ensured that there must be secure waste management for plastic product industries (Bensel & Carbone, 2020). Zero-waste movements are highly advocated to promote environmental sustainability, and it is being endorsed to reduce waste that is sent to landfills. People can start by ensuring that residential and personal waste is reduced. The use of renewable sources of energy is also advocated as a sustainable means of controlling the drought. Solar power and wind turbines are highly advocated for the generation of power. Less energy usage is good, for instance, better insulation, or even using a vehicle that is more fuel-efficient.References

Bensel, T., & Carbone, I. (2020). Sustaining our planet. Retrieved from

https://content.ashford.edu

Schimel, J. P. (2018). Life in dry soils: effects of drought on soil microbial communities and processes. Annual review of ecology, evolution, and systematics, 49, 409-432. https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/full/10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-110617-062614