A Natural

Disaster
“Drought”
Name: Ishan
Rawat
Class: 9C
Roll No: 28
 Contents:
1.Acknowledgement
2.Introduction
3.Significance of Drought
4.Causes of Drought
5.Effects of Drought
6.Mitigation Strategies for Drought
7.Case Study
8.Conclusion
9.Biography
10.Credit
 Acknowledgement
I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude to my
teacher Ms. Kavita as well as our principal sir, who gave me the
golden opportunity to do this wonderful project. This project also
helped me in doing a lots of research and I came to know about so
many things.
I am extremely grateful to my parents who gave valuable
suggestions and guidance for completion of my project. This
cooperation and healthy criticism came handy and useful with
them
Hence, I would like to thanks all the above mentioned people once
again.
 Introduction
Drought is a natural phenomenon
characterized by an extended period of
abnormally low precipitation levels,
resulting in a shortage of water
resources. It is a complex and
multifaceted environmental issue that
has significant implications for
ecosystems, societies, and economies
worldwide. Understanding drought and
its various aspects is of utmost
importance in order to effectively
address its consequences and develop
 Significance of Drought

Drought is a matter of great concern due to its wide-ranging impacts

on various sectors and its potential to trigger severe social,
economic, and environmental consequences. Here are some key
reasons why drought holds significant significance:
Water Scarcity: Drought leads to a shortage of water resources,
affecting both surface water and groundwater reserves. This scarcity
poses a threat to human water supplies, agricultural irrigation, and
industrial activities, ultimately impacting the overall availability of
water for domestic, agricultural, and industrial use.
 Causes of Drought
Natural Causes:
1.Weather Patterns: Variations in weather patterns, such as shifts in
atmospheric pressure systems, can lead to changes in precipitation patterns,
resulting in prolonged periods of reduced rainfall and drought conditions.
2.Climate Change: Climate change plays a significant role in drought
occurrence. Rising temperatures can increase evaporation rates, leading to drier
conditions. Climate change can also alter precipitation patterns, causing shifts in
rainfall distribution and exacerbating drought frequency and intensity in certain
regions.
3.El Niño and La Niña: El Niño and La Niña events, which occur as part of the El
Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle, can influence global weather patterns and
contribute to drought. El Niño events often result in reduced rainfall in some areas,
while La Niña events can bring drier conditions to other regions.
Human Activities:
1.Deforestation: Large-scale deforestation can disrupt local and regional climate
patterns, reduce evapotranspiration rates, and alter atmospheric moisture circulation.
These changes can lead to decreased rainfall and increased vulnerability to drought.
2.Water Mismanagement: Mismanagement of water resources, such as over-
extraction from groundwater aquifers or inefficient irrigation practices, can contribute
to drought. These activities can deplete water sources, exacerbate water scarcity,
and increase the likelihood of drought conditions.
3.Land Use Changes: Alterations in land use, such as urbanization, agriculture
expansion, and land degradation, can affect local climates and hydrological cycles.
These changes can disrupt natural water storage and flow patterns, ultimately
influencing the occurrence and severity of drought.
4.Population Growth and Water Demand: Rapid population growth and
increased water demand place additional stress on water resources. In areas with
limited water availability, high population densities can strain supplies, leading to
water scarcity and increased vulnerability to drought.
 Environmental Effects of Drought
Loos of Tree mortality, Forest Decay
Pasture lost
diversity
Forest Fires

Vegetation

Fresh Water
Plants and Soil biota

Soil
Animals Drought Carbon storage
Soil Structure
Water Quality

Fauna
Land degradation
Habitat And desertification
degradatio Wildlife loss
n And mitigation

Temporary VS Permanent
 Mitigation strategies
◦Water Conservation: Implementing water conservation practices is crucial in
mitigating the effects of drought. This can include promoting efficient irrigation
techniques, such as drip irrigation and precision agriculture, reducing water losses
through leak detection and repair, implementing rainwater harvesting systems, and
raising public awareness about the importance of water conservation.
◦Sustainable Agricultural Practices: Encouraging sustainable agricultural
practices can help mitigate the impacts of drought on the agricultural sector. These
practices include adopting precision farming methods, agroforestry, soil and moisture
conservation techniques (such as contour plowing and terracing), crop rotation, and
the use of organic fertilizers. These approaches enhance soil moisture retention and
reduce water demand, making agriculture more resilient to drought conditions.
 Case study:
At least 330 million people are
affected by drought in India.
1.Case of a Yogita Desai,
Yogita Desai had spent close to 4
hours in 42°C gathering water from
the pump on Sunday.
◦She began vomiting due to
heatstroke and dehydration and was
rushed to hospital, but she died.
◦The droughts cost to our life so, we
should know the ways to prevent
from it.
 Conclusion
• Drought is a prolonged period of low precipitation, leading to water scarcity and environmental
stress.
• Impacts of drought include reduced crop yields, economic losses, ecosystem degradation, and water
scarcity.
• Effective strategies include water conservation, diversification of water sources, integrated water
resource management, and climate-resilient agriculture.
• Policy approaches include early warning systems, drought contingency plans, stakeholder
engagement, and financial support.
• Addressing drought is crucial for food security, ecosystem preservation, and socio-economic
stability.
• Unresolved issues include improved monitoring and prediction, climate change adaptation, socio-
economic impacts, and policy evaluation.
• Future research directions include enhancing drought monitoring, understanding climate change-
drought interactions, assessing socio-economic consequences, and evaluating policy effectiveness.
 Bibliography
1. Text taken from ChatGPT (Open AI) (https://openai.com/)
2. Images in 1 slide taken from Microsoft PowerPoint Stock Images
3. Photos taken from google (https://google.com)
4. Photo of Case Study taken from Google (https://google.com)
 Credit:
1.Text taken from ChatGPT (Open AI)
(https://openai.com/)

2.Images in 1 slide taken from

Microsoft PowerPoint Stock Images

3. Photo of Case Study taken from Google (google.com)

THAN
K YOU