- Home
- Overview of drought
- Causes of drought
- Impacts of drought
- Strategies to combat drought
- Drought images
An extended drought can have serious effects on both rural and urban populations. As the moisture content of the soil diminishes, many social, political, environmental and economical problems arise. The primary effects of a drought are loss of crops, livestock, and water used for consumption. If resulting food shortages become chronic, famine can occur. Secondary effects of drought may include fires, flash flooding, and desertification, the last of which results from increased wind erosion of soils. Wind-blown ash and dust can also compromise the air quality of far-distant areas. In these ways, even localized droughts can have global consequences.
Social Impacts
Droughts can cause mass migration from rural to urban areas, resulting in internal displacement and international refugees
Humans can suffer from malnutrition and dehydration and related diseases e.g. high-cost food limitations, stress-related dietry deficiencies
Potential war over natural resources such as water and food
Famine due to lack of water for irrigation
General increase in poverty
Reduction and modification of recreational activities
Health problems such as mental and physical stress, depression, and loss of human life due to heat, violence and suicides
Conflicts between the public and government regarding drought response such as water restrictions
Dust storms form when drought hits an area suffering from desertification and erosion
Economical Impacts
Less Food Production due to damage to crop quality- droughts can cause crops to stunt in growth causing lower yields and poor crop quality. If a farmer's water supply is too low, the farmer may have to spend more money on irrigation or to find new water sources, such as wells. The economic result is an increase in food prices.
Businesses that manufacture and sell recreational equipment such as fishing gear and boats, may loose customers due to drought drying up lakes and other water sources. This could also have an affect of the tourist industry.
Power companies that normally rely on hydroelectric power may have to spend more money on other fuel sources if drought dries up the water supply. The customers of the power companies would also have to pay more.
People working in the timber industry may be affected when trees die or wildfires destroy stands of timber.
Cost of water transport of transfer, while water companies may have to spend money on new or additional water supplies.
Barges and ships may have difficulty navigating streams, rivers, and canals because of low water levels, which would also affect businesses that depend on water transportation for receiving or sending goods and materials.
Death of livestock leading to rising prices on food
Reduced electricity production due to insufficient available coolant for power stations
Environmental Impacts
Destruction of aquatic wildlife habitats
Lack of food and drinking water for wild animals, possibly resulting in disease- Drought often creates a lack of clean water for drinking, public sanitation and personal hygiene, which can lead to a wide range of life-threatening diseases.
Migration of wildlife and humans- many people will flee a drought-stricken area in search of a new home with a better supply of water, enough food, and without the disease and conflict that were present in the place they are leaving.
An increase stress on endangered species
Increase number and severity of fires- The low moisture and precipitation that often characterize droughts can quickly create hazardous conditions in forests and across range lands, setting the stage for wildfires that may cause injuries or deaths as well as extensive damage to property and already shrinking food supplies.
Wind and water erosion of soils and reduction in soil quality Increased predation Damage to plants
Political Impacts
Changes in rainfall patterns can increase the likelyhood of armed conflict in countries that are dependant on agricultural production. Due to the shortage, people may die and therefore cause problems for the government to decide how to control the problem
Droughts can increase poverty and therefore result in political instability in the developing world
Droughts can cause the government to enforce restrictions on water usage. This could subsequently cause problems between the public and the government, due to the high demand of water
conflict and war—When a drought occurs it creates a corresponding lack of food, people will then compete which will lead to killing in order to secure enough water to survive. This could cause political problems such as war
Migration will also cause political problems due to the number of Immigrants and Emigrants exiting/entering a country. The government will have to adjust to the new number of people in a region and be able to supply them will food and water