Atmospheric Conditions: The Four Types Of Droughts

A drought is an atmospheric condition in which there is little to no rainfall over a long period of time. Usually, the amount of rainfall drops under the average amount and the weather becomes hotter. Droughts can cause economic despair in areas heavily affected. The lack of rain destroys the environment and makes it difficult for people and animals to survive. Lakes become dry valleys and rivers are reduced to a trickle of water. The word “drought” comes from English, German, and Dutch words meaning “dry”. Meteorological, agriculture, hydrological, and socioeconomic are the four different types of droughts. They each affect people and land differently. Droughts are severe weather disasters that cause a large impact on society and on the economical

Evapotranspiration is the process in which water is transferred from the land to the atmosphere by evaporation from soil and other surfaces, and by transpiration from plants. Plants depend on water from precipitation and they will die without it creating a shortage of plant growth which can eventually lead to a drought. Hydrological droughts are affected by periods of precipitation. “The frequency and severity of hydrological drought is often defined on a watershed or river basin scale.” If it takes longer for the period of precipitation to show up then a Hydrological drought starts. Precipitation deficiency can cause loss of soil moisture. All droughts can be affected by precipitation deficiency, but the drought most often caused by precipitation deficiency is Hydrological. The two droughts above are very different and have that one similarity. There are actually are four types of droughts, Meteorological droughts and Socioeconomic droughts and the other two above. In conclusion, the two droughts are very different. The agricultural droughts are caused by a shortage in things such as plants. The hydrological droughts are caused by the periods of time when the rain comes. But they have one similarity, they are both can be caused by precipitation deficiency.

Droughts have many effects, on people, the economy, the environment, and even the occurrence of other types of weather. Droughts are very destructive in general and can lead to other possibly destructive weather, including wildfires, dust storms, and desertification. The effects of drought can make it hard to make money, cause health issues, and ruin the environment. Droughts can affect supply and demand. They cause the quality, quantity, and price of products to change rapidly. This is frustrating for the citizens living through the drought. Farmers and manufactures also have to change their plans due to the lack of supplies. Drought also affects transportation of goods due to water levels. Thankfully, drought can be measured, identified, and predicted by humans. Scientist use a tool called the Palmer Drought Severity Index, created in 1965. Severe droughts in history can help scientists study more, so as to be knowledgeable about droughts in the present and future. Droughts are a very serious weather phenomenon that can have traumatizing effects on many parts of