#Extended timelime drought full#

Two of the most devastating droughts in the history of the United States-the 1930s Dust Bowl and the 1988 drought in the Midwest-are associated with the effects of La Niña. The effects of La Niña on weather patterns are often more complex than El Niño. El Niño and La Niña both usually last about a year. The cooler waters affect storm patterns by contributing to drier-than-normal conditions in parts of North and South America. La Niña is the counterpart to El Niño, when the surface water in the Pacific Ocean along the coast of South America decreases in temperature. These warmer waters alter storm patterns and are associated with droughts in Indonesia, Australia, and northeastern South America. El Nino events keep climate scientists guessing, by occurring every two to seven years. El Niño is a weather event where the surface water in the Pacific Ocean along the central South American coast rises in temperature. Scientists have found a link between certain climate patterns and drought. Changes in wind patterns can also be disruptive to how moisture is absorbed in various regions.

This disruption can dramatically impact amounts of precipitation that a region normally receives. Changes in atmospheric circulation patterns can cause storm tracks to be stalled for months or years. Most droughts occur when regular weather patterns are interrupted, causing disruption to the water cycle. The start and end of a drought are often only clear in hindsight. While a single rain storm will provide short-term relief from a drought, it might take weeks or months before levels of precipitation return to normal. The end of a drought can also be difficult to determine.

#Extended timelime drought full#

It can take weeks, months, or even years for the full effects of long-term inadequate rainfall to become apparent. Unlike many natural hazards that bring about sudden and dramatic results-such as earthquakes, tornadoes, and hurricanes-the onset of a drought can be gradual and subtle. A drought in Atlanta could be a very wet period in Phoenix, Arizona!ĭetermining the start of a drought can be tricky. However, some arid regions, such as the deserts of the American Southwest, may receive less than about 25 centimeters (10 inches) of rainfall in a non-drought year. If significantly less rain falls, there may be water shortages and a drought may be declared. A drought is defined depending on the average amount of precipitation that an area is accustomed to receiving.įor example, in Atlanta, Georgia, the average rainfall is about 127 centimeters (50 inches) a year. One difficulty is that drought means different things in different regions. Since 2014 California has lost at least 2 billion-dollars a year, due to drought.ĭrought is a complicated phenomenon, and can be hard to define. Drought is also one of the costliest weather-related disasters. Since 1900, more than 11 million people have died and more than 2 billion people have been affected by drought. However, drought can have drastic and long-term effects on vegetation, animals, and people.

These effects can lead to devastating economic and social disasters, such as famine, forced migration away from drought-stricken areas, and conflict over remaining resources.īecause the full effects of a drought can develop slowly over time, impacts can be underestimated. The lack of precipitation can cause a variety of problems for local communities, including damage to crops and a shortage of drinking water. Drought is an extended period of unusually dry weather when there is not enough rain.