What does drought look like?
When some places are in a drought, they may be dry, hot and dusty; cracks may appear in the soil, and rivers, lakes, streams, and other sources of water may go dry. Other places in drought get some rain, but not as much as they usually receive during that season. India has experienced drought conditions at some point in almost all its states. Droughts can be broadly classified into four main types based on their causes – meteorological, hydrological, agricultural and socioeconomic. Meteorological drought is caused by rainfall deficiency over an extended period of time.When some places are in a drought, they may be dry, hot and dusty; cracks may appear in the soil, and rivers, lakes, streams, and other sources of water may go dry. Other places in drought get some rain, but not as much as they usually receive during that season.
Why is it called a drought?
Traditionally, a drought is simply water scarcity, normally from a lack of rain. This is essentially the definition that we’ve inherited from 10,000 years of rain-fed agriculture. In a more nuanced form, it has also come to refer to water competition — too many straws in the drink. Defining Short- and Long-Term Drought If a weather pattern that results in a precipitation deficit lasts for a few weeks or months, it is considered short-term drought. If the pattern and precipitation deficits last for more than six months, it is typically considered long-term drought.