Question

Give a detailed explanation about droughts.

Answer 1

Droughts:
Any lack of water to satisfy the normal needs of agriculture, livestock, industry, or human population may be termed a drought.

Classifications of drought:
Drought could be classified into three major types. They are:

1. Meteorological drought:
ft is a situation where there is a reduction in rainfall for a specific period below ‘ a specific level.

2. Hydrological drought:
It is associated with the reduction of water in streams, rivers, and reservoirs. It is of two types.

1. Surface water and
2. Groundwater drought

3. Agricultural drought:

1. It refers to the condition in which the agricultural crops get affected due to lack of rainfall.
2. Droughts in India occur in the event of failure monsoon.

The Major areas highly prone to drought are:

1. The arid and semi-arid region from Ahmadabad to Kanpur on one side and from Kanpur to Jalandhar on the other.
2. The dry region lies on the leeward side of the Western Ghats.