8 Drought

Which of the following are man-made causes of drought?

• Less precipitation (rainfall, snowfall) than expected

• Dam building

• Agriculture (Irrigation)

• Deforestation

The main natural cause of drought is

• Deforestation

• Building dams

• Less precipitation than expected

• Excessive use of water by people

Hydrological drought is caused by vanishing water supply in water bodies such as streams, lakes, rivers and underground water.

• True

• False

We know a drought has ended when precipitation replenishes underground water.

• True

• False

A meteorological drought is ....

• Very high rainfall

• a period of above average precipitation in a certain region

• a period of below average precipitation in a certain region

• a desert

Which answers are correct... drought can cause ....

• Poor soil quality

• More wildfires

• Higher water levels

• Lower water levels

How do droughts impact farmers? Choose the correct answers.

• Crops may die

• Farmers don't lose money

• Farmers rely on groundwater supply

• Farmers may lose cattle

How can dams cause drought?

• By reducing rainfall levels

• By reducing water levels downstream

• By flooding land behind the dam wall

Over-cultivation of crops leading to groundwater depletion.

• deforestation

• ENSO (El Nino Southern Oscillation)

• poor farming practices

High pressure anticyclone of dry stable, warm, descending air can sit over a large area for long periods and lead to a lack of rainfall.

• weather patterns

• climate change

• ENSO (El Nino Southern Oscillation)