Pak.

Studies/Code:2059/Geo

BY

TAYYBA ZAHOOR
Drought
 Drought is an extended period when a region notes a deficiency in its
water supply. A drought can last for months or years . Generally, this
occurs when a region receives consistently below average precipitation
 There are four ways of categorizing drought
 Permanent drought
 Exist where crop cultivation isn’t possible
 Seasonal drought:
 Occurs in areas with well-defined rainy and dry season
 Invisible drought:
 It is the result of a water deficiency that reduces crop yields
 Unpredictable drought
 It is the result of abnormally low rainfall
Causes of drought

 Natural
 Unreliability of monsoon winds may lead to seasonal drought
 The dry and hot winds can reduce the moisture contents of sandy soil
 Global climate is constantly changing leading to changes in Pakistan’s
climate
 Human
 Deforestation on foothills increase soil erosion and reduces rainfall
 Mismanagement of water resources
 The disputed and unfair distribution of water
 Over grazing of land
 Global warming
Effects of drought

 The effects of drought on physical environment are sever, the land is

turned into a desert and because of this the soil is exposed leading to
soil erosion, many species are extinct because of lack of food. There’s
rise in temperature and loss of vegetation, because of low precipitation
there’s extension of desert areas.
 Drought not only effect physical environment but also human
environment
 drought affect Population, Loss of life because of widespread famines,
malnutrition, health problems and starvation
 Nomadic lifestyle because people migrate from the areas that are
affected by drought and because of this urbanization is increased
causing an increase in domestic waste leading to water pollution.
Drought management

 Water storage schemes: reservoirs and dams should be

built in order to store water and some traditional methods
should also be utilized in order to store water. The areas
that receive heavy rainfall can utilize the water through
perennial canal system. More projects are required in order
to meet the needs of people.
 New methods should be used, desalination process should
be used, conversion of waste water in to clean water
through chemical treatment
 Drought resistant seeds should be used
 High priority should be given to the allocation of water to
industrial areas and to meet the basic needs of people.