Question

Which of the following may be considered to be a correct definition of a drought?

• A. A drought is an event of prolonged shortages in the water supply, whether atmospheric, surface water or ground water.
• B. A drought is an event of prolonged shortages, wherein the government refuses to release water to its citizens despite having an excess.
• C. A prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, leading to a shortage of water.
• D. A drought is a period of time when an area or region experiences below-normal precipitation.

Answer 1

Answer: (A), (C), (D)

A drought is a period of time when an area or region experiences below-normal precipitation.

It is difficult to provide a precise and universally accepted definition of a drought. This may be put down to the fact that droughts possess varying characteristics and bring about varying impacts across different regions. A drought is a normal, recurrent feature of climate, and may occur in all climatic divisions, and is usually characterized in terms of its spatial extent, intensity, and duration. Droughts cause economic, environmental, and social impacts.