Drought

A drought is defined as drier than normal conditions. This means that a drought is "a moisture deficit relative to the average water availability at a given location and season". A drought can last for days, months or years. Drought often exerts substantial impacts on the ecosystems and agriculture of affected regions, and causes harm to the local economy. Annual dry seasons in the tropics significantly increase the chances of a drought developing and subsequent wildfires. Periods of heat can significantly worsen drought conditions by hastening evaporation of water vapour. Drought is a recurring feature of the climate in most parts of the world, becoming more extreme and less predictable due to climate change, which dendrochronological studies date back to 1900. There are three kinds of drought effects, environmental, economic and social. Environmental effects include the drying of wetlands, more and larger wildfires, loss of biodiversity.

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New Green Revolution gene discovery sows hope of drought resilient wheat

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Drought, not lithium mining, is drying out Chile's largest salt flat

Drought snarls Mississippi River transit in blow to farmers

El Niño increases seedling mortality even in drought-tolerant forests

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Industrial Revolution may have been kick-started by drought

Timely study on rising groundwater offers hope for drought-stricken East Africa

Drought, not lack of 'working rivers', may have helped spur transition to steam power in Britain's industrial revolution