Sequía

Definition

Drought may be considered in general terms a consequence of a reduction over an extended period of time in the amount of precipitation that is received, usually over a season or more in length. It is a temporary aberration, unlike aridity, which is a permanent feature of the climate. Seasonal aridity (i.e., a well-defined dry season) also needs to be distinguished from drought. It should be noted that drought is a normal, recurrent feature of climate, and it occurs in virtually all climatic regimes (UNDDR).

Facts and figures

Droughts are often predictable: periods of unusual dryness are normal in all weather systems. Advance warning is possible (WHO).

By 2025, 1.8 billion people will experience absolute water scarcity, and 2/3 of the world will be living under water stressed conditions (UNCCD).

Drought can be defined according to meteorological, agricultural, hydrological and socio-economic criteria.

  • Meteorological, when precipitation departs from the long-term normal
  • Agricultural, when there is insufficient soil moisture to meet the needs of a particular crop at a particular time. Agricultural drought is typically evident after meteorological drought but before a hydrological drought
  • Hydrological, when deficiencies occur in surface and subsurface water supplies
  • Socio-economic, when human activities are affected by reduced precipitation and related water availability. This form of drought associates human activities with elements of meteorological, agricultural, and hydrological drought (FAO).

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Related content on the Knowledge Portal

  • A severe drought is affecting indigenous communities in the department of Chuquisaca in the Chaco region. ECHO is providing 150.000 euros to help around 390 families.

    Source: http://www.glidenumber.net/glide/public/search/details.jsp?glide=18928.

     

     

     

    read more
  • Sources from IRIN, click here

  • NAIROBI, 17 August 2009 (IRIN) - Some rains have fallen in northern Somalia, but this has not stopped an exodus of drought-affected people from rural areas to urban centres in Somaliland, local officials said.

    "We know that hundreds of thousands have [been] displaced to urban centres," said Abdihakim Garaad Mohamoud, Deputy Minister at the Somaliland Ministry of Resettlement, Reintegration and Rehabilitation.

    "Every city in Somaliland has a huge number of displaced people because of the recent drought," he added. "It has affected 60 percent of the rural population, whether they are pastoralists or agro-pastoralists. From east to west, south to north, every place in Somaliland has been affected."

    Across towns in the self-declared republic, such as Burao, Berbera, Erigavo, Las’anod and Badhan, temporary shelters have sprouted as rural...

    read more
  • A drought-like situation is developing in parts of India and Bangladesh. The rain deficit is affecting water supplies and farmers in the affected areas of both countries are reportedly facing electricity and fuel shortages or higher costs for pumping water for irrigation.

    Source : Glide number

    Ressources from OCHA/Reliefweb, click here

  • Syria is currently experiencing the dramatic effects of a drought that has been affecting the country since 2006. Out of a total of 1,3 million people affected by the drought, the Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform (MAAR) and the UN in Syria estimate that some 800,000 people corresponding to 75,641 households have been severely affected. Over the past three years, their income has decreased by 90% and their assets and sources of livelihood have been severely compromised.

    Source : Glide number

  • Since the first trimester of 2009, Paraguay has been facing an extreme cyclical drought. On 11 May, the Paraguayan government declared the departments of Concepcion, Neembucu, Presidente Hayes, Boqueron and Alto Paraguay in a state of emergency in order for the affected population (mostly indigenous groups and farmers) to start implementing preventive measures.

    Source : Glide number

     

    Ressources from OCHA/Reliefweb, click here

    read more
  • 44 percent of winter wheat areas in China under extreme drought conditions in the following provinces: Henan, Anhai, Shandong, Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Gansu.

    Source : Glide number

     

    Ressources from OCHA/Reliefweb, click here

    read more
  • Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) reported the drought hazard which has affected 12 provinces, 45 districts, 272 sub-districts, 1,522 villages, 183,279 households and 659,169 residents.

    Source : Glide number

  • Severe drought in the entire country has affected the agricultural sector, leading the the Government to declare an agricultural emergency. Wildfires and dangers of water shortage are also reported.

    Source : Glide number

Term Parents

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