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| Proper lawn management and use of drought-tolerant species may help it survive drought conditions. Photo Credit: Growing a Greener World |
What is a Drought?
Droughts result when there is less than normal precipitation over an extended period of time. The decreased amount of water may then result in a water shortage for communities affecting normal activities and the environment. Drought is a normal feature of weather and climate patterns and occurs virtually everywhere. Though it is considered a “temporary” condition, drought may last for long periods of time.
Drought is not detrimental in and of itself. Problems with drought arise when considering the demand that humans place on water supplies. Oftentimes, water usage levels that are common cannot be supported when natural supplies decrease, such as in times if drought.
Types of drought:
- Meteorological- occurs when there is a significant departure of precipitation below normal values.
- Agricultural- occurs when the soil moisture is not adequate for vegetation (crops) or livestock.
- Hydrological- occurs when surface (lakes, rivers, reservoirs) and subsurface water (groundwater) levels are significantly below normal.
- Socioeconomic- occurs when the physical water shortage begins to have an effect on daily life
Additional Resources:
Northwest
Midwest
University of Nebraska - Drought Information
University of Wisconsin - Extension Responses: Drought
Northeast
Drought and water conservation
Southeast
What is drought?
Understanding drought
Southwest
Sources:
University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service (1998). What is drought? Retrieved June 22, 2011.