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About
Drought
What
is a drought?
A drought is
a period of abnormally dry weather. Drought diminishes
natural stream flow and depletes soil moisture, which
can cause social, environmental and economic impacts.
In general, the term "drought" should be reserved for
periods of moisture deficiency that are relatively extensive
in both space and time.
What
causes a drought?
A drought is
caused by a deficiency of rainfall and can be increased
by other factors such as high temperatures, high winds,
and low relative humidity. Drought can also result from
human activities that increase demand for water. Expanding
populations, irrigation, and environmental awareness all
put pressure on water supplies. The severity of the drought
depends not only on the duration, intensity, and geographic
range, but also on the regional water supply demands made
by human activities and vegetation.
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