1. Nowadays humanity has to deal with many natural disasters. It is always a hard task
because disasters are mostly difficult to pretend and the results od them can be really
devastating. One of the scariest disasters is drought. While it is relatively easy to define
what a hurricane or earthquake is, defining a drought is more subjective. Droughts do
not have the immediate effects of floods, but sustained droughts can cause economic
stress throughout an area. The word "drought" has various meanings, depending on a
person's perspective. To a farmer, a drought is a period of moisture deficiency that
affects the crops under cultivation.
A drought is a period of drier-than-normal conditions that results in water-related
problems. Precipitation (rain or snow) falls in uneven patterns across the country. The
amount of precipitation at a particular location varies from year to year, but over a
period of years, the average amount is fairly constant. When little or no rain falls, soils
can dry out and plants can die. When rainfall is less than normal for several weeks,
months, or years, the flow of streams and rivers declines, water levels in lakes and
reservoirs fall, and the depth to water in wells increases. If dry weather persists and
water-supply problems develop, the dry period can become a drought. The first
evidence of drought usually is seen in records of rainfall. Within a short period of time,
the amount of moisture in soils can begin to decrease. The effects of a drought on flow
in streams and reservoirs may not be noticed for several weeks or months. Water
levels in wells may not reflect a shortage of rainfall for a year or more after a drought
begins.
Rainfall in any form will provide some drought relief. A good analogy might be how
medicine and illness relate to each other. A single dose of medicine can alleviate
symptoms of illness, but it usually takes a sustained program of medication to cure an
illness. Likewise, a single rainstorm will not break the drought, but it may provide
temporary relief. A light to moderate shower will probably only provide cosmetic relief.
During the growing season, most of the rain that falls will be quickly evaporated or used
by plants. Its impact is short term. Soaking rains are the best medicine to alleviate
drought. Water that enters the soil recharges ground water, which in turn sustains
vegetation and feeds streams during periods when it is not raining. A single soaking
2. rain will provide lasting relief from drought conditions, but multiple such rains over
several months may be required to break a drought and return conditions to within the
normal range. Even when a drought has been broken it may not be truly over. The
benefits of substantial rainfall such as from a tropical storm may last for months, but a
return to normal rainfall patterns and amounts is necessary for conditions in streams,
reservoirs, and ground water to also return to normal.
So, what should be done to prevent droughts? Even simple action can counteract
drought:
- collect rainwater and its subsequent use,
- construction of ponds and artificial water bodies,
- tree planting,
- saving water at home during everyday work.
Why is drought so dangerous? The answers may not be so easy for us because in our
climate droughts are mostly not so dangerous. Although, we have to remember that
lack of water kills not only plants and animals but also thousands of people every year.
What is more, drought causes serious economical problems by destroying important
sources of food and water.
To sum up, drought is one of the most damaging natural disasters that we have faced
in recent years. By bringing innovative ideas and solutions, we can reduce the effects
of droughts as well as put measures in place to prevent the occurrence of this natural
disaster altogether.
