Why does drought occur? What is the real reason for drought? 184 crore people around the world are in the grip of drought. Why Drought Happens Scientific Reasons And Effects Drought Facts Photoshow

The biggest reason for drought is less than normal or not timely rainfall. A large part of farming here depends on monsoon. If the monsoon weakens or there is no rain for a long time, a drought-like situation arises. Sometimes there is less rainfall in the entire season, while sometimes there is a lot of rainfall in a few days and the rest of the time there is no rainfall at all. Rain falling at odd times is also a cause of drought.

Due to climate change, the weather pattern keeps changing. Many places do not receive rain for a long time, while some areas receive heavy rain in a very short period of time. Rising temperatures dry up water from the ground faster. Due to this, the soil dries up quickly and crops do not get enough moisture. This is the reason why serious news of drought is heard in many parts.

Forests are an essential part of the natural water cycle. Trees help in maintaining moisture in the atmosphere. When trees are cut on a large scale, local weather and rainfall can also be affected. However, cutting of trees alone does not cause drought, but it weakens the availability of water and environmental balance.

In many areas, excessive use of water also reduces the water level and leads to drought. If the amount of water that is being extracted from the ground is not coming back, then the groundwater level continuously goes down. In such a situation, water shortage becomes even more serious when there is less rainfall.

The biggest impact of drought falls on farmers. Crops get spoiled and there is economic loss. The water level of rivers, ponds and lakes decreases. There is a crisis of drinking water in many places. It becomes difficult for animals to get fodder and water. If drought continues for a long time, food production, electricity supply and the economy are also affected.

Drought cannot be completely prevented, but its impact can be reduced. Steps like saving rainwater, proper use of water, conservation of ponds and lakes, proper use of ground water and planting more and more trees can prove to be effective.

• Nearly 184 crore people in India live in areas where there is a risk of severe drought.
• By 2050, 75% of the population could face some form of drought.
• The incidence of drought worldwide has increased by 29% since 1970.
• More than 2.3 billion people live in countries where there is severe water shortage.

Content Source: India Meteorological Department, World Meteorological Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.