Effects of Drought

Effects of Drought

MANY ARID AND DRY AREAS EXIST ON THIS PLANET, MOST OF THEM OCCUR IN DESERT REGIONS, BETWEEN 28O NORTH AND 180 SOUTH DEGREES. ALTHOUGH MOST OF THE VEGETATION IN THESE DESERTS HAVE ADAPTED TO THE CLIMATE BUT WHEN DROUGHTS OCCUR IN REGIONS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ACCUSTOMED TO THAT KIND OF WEATHER SOME VERY DRASTIC THINGS CAN OCCUR. FAMINE IS ONE OF THE WORST THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN, A LARGER PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION IN THESE AREAS ARE LIVING IN 3RD WORLD COUNTRIES, THEREFORE THEY HAVE TO GROW SOME OF THEIR OWN CROPS, IN CASE OF DROUGHTS THE FOOD WILL NOT BE IRRIGATED AND THEY ARE IN DANGER OF STARVATION, BUT DROUGHT DOES NOT ALWAYS AFFECT EVERYONE NEGATIVELY. WELL DRILLERS, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE IN GREAT DEMAND IN CERTAIN AREAS, ESPECIALLY DRY REGIONS, AND CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES MAY HAVE FEWER RAINY DAYS THEREFORE SLOWING THEIR WORK DOWN. FISHERMAN HAVE GREAT DIFFICULTY KEEPING UP WITH THE DEMAND MOST OF THE TIME BECAUSE FISH DIE WHEN A LAKE IS COMPLETELY DEHYDRATED AND WHEN RAIN FILLS IT UP AGAIN THERE ARE NOT FISH TO POPULATE IT. IN CORSICA OF THE LAST FEW YEARS THERE HAS BEEN LARGER AMOUNTS OF FIRE EVERY YEAR; THE COUNTRY IS GOING THROUGH SOME SERIOUS DROUGHT PROBLEMS AT THE MOMENT. PEOPLE IN AFRICA AND SOUTH AMERICA ARE RELYING ON WELLS TO KEEP THEM ALIVE, THEY ARE NOT ALWAYS HAVING CONSTANT WATER SUPPLIES NEAR THEIR HOME AND THEREFORE HAVE TO MAKE THEIR KIDS WALK LONG DISTANCES TO GET SOME WATER FOR THEM. NOT ONLY FISH BUT A LOT OF OTHER ANIMALS ARE AFFECTED BY THIS, MOSTLY FOREST ANIMALS. DROUGHT IS ALSO A VERY BAD INFLUENCE ON THE SUPPLY OF HYDROELECTRIC SOURCES AROUND THE GLOBE; USUALLY THIS MEANS THAT A LOT OF COUNTRIES TO REVERT TO OTHER MEANS OF PRODUCING ELECTRICITY, NOT ALL OF THEM ARE AS CLEAN AS HYDROELECTRIC POWER. U.S. FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY HAS ESTIMATED THAT DROUGHT COSTS THE UNITED STATES AN AVERAGE OF $6-8 BILLION DOLLARS EVERY YEAR, MAKING IT THE COSTLIEST NATURAL DISASTER.

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