5 Types of Drought & Their Impacts on Human Activities [Explained]

Drought is not simply a lack of rainfall—it can manifest in various forms, each with distinct causes and consequences. 

Understanding different types of drought helps us better prepare for, manage, and mitigate droughts' severe impacts on agriculture, ecosystems, and communities.

Drought types explained

What Is Drought?

Drought is a prolonged dry period in the natural climatic cycle. It happens everywhere and is an aspect of the climate. 

This phenomenon is a slow-onset event that results in water shortage due to a lack of precipitation.

Drought may severely affect health, agriculture, economics, energy, and the environment.

Definition of the drought

In fact, droughts affect an estimated 55 million people worldwide each year and pose the greatest threat to livestock and crops in almost every region. 

It jeopardizes people's livelihoods, raises the danger of illness and mortality, and promotes mass migration.

5 Different Types of Drought

There are 5 main types of drought with different characteristics as follows:

Meteorological drought

It happens when there is less precipitation than usual during an extended period. 

High levels of reflected sunlight and above-normal high-pressure systems—winds that bring continental air masses instead of oceanic ones—can cause these kinds of droughts.

Meteorological drought

Agricultural drought

Agricultural drought has an impact on range ecology and crop productivity.

This condition can occur without changes in rainfall. It happens when over-irrigation, poor soil management, or erosion from unsustainable farming reduce the water available for crops.

Hydrological drought

Hydrological drought occurs when water supplies in sources such as aquifers, lakes, and reservoirs fall below a locally significant threshold.

Since this type uses stored water that is not replenished, it typically shows up more slowly. Similar to an agricultural drought, this can be brought on by factors other than a decrease in precipitation.

Hydrological drought

Socioeconomic drought

This condition takes into account how the supply and demand for certain commodities are impacted by drought circumstances, whether they be hydrological, meteorological, or agricultural. 

When demand for an economic commodity outpaces supply due to a weather-related water supply shortage, socioeconomic drought arises.

Ecological drought

Ecological drought disrupts ecosystems by reducing water availability to plants, animals, and soil, leading to habitat loss, decreased biodiversity, and ecosystem stress. 

Prolonged dry periods, climate change, altered precipitation patterns, excessive human water use, and land degradation can cause it.

Ecological drought

What Causes a Drought?

Now you know what a drought is and types of drought. In general, this phenomenon is caused by two main factors: human and natural causes.

Human causes

Below are some common human activities that can lead to drought.

• Deforestation: Because rain tends to fall and wash the land away as surface runoff, removing trees can decrease the water in the soil. As a result, the ground becomes more susceptible to erosion and desertification, which can cause drought.

• Agriculture: Lakes, rivers, and groundwater are depleted when vast volumes of water are used to irrigate crops. Not to mention, several crops like cotton require more water than others.

Human causes of drought

• High water demand: More people and factories need more water. This can empty rivers, lakes, and underground water, leading to drought.

• Dam building: Large dams can be constructed over a river to store water in a reservoir and produce energy. Consequently, there may be less river water flowing downstream and drought beneath the dam.

• Climate change: It causes the weather to be drier and hotter in several places. This may cause droughts to last longer and happen more often.

Natural causes

In addition to human causes, factors like changes in ocean temperatures and jet streams also cause drought.

• Changes in ocean temperatures: Fluctuations in ocean temperatures, particularly during climate events like El Niño and La Niña, can lead to drought in various parts of the world. For instance, when the Pacific Ocean becomes warmer than usual during El Niño, it may trigger dry conditions in regions such as southern Africa and the southwestern United States. Also, cooler-than-normal Pacific Ocean temperatures indicate La Niña, which can cause drought in Indonesia and Australia.

• Jet stream: Jet stream refers to strong winds that move high in the atmosphere. Changes in it may bring dryness in specific areas as it carries dry air from other parts of the planet.

What causes a drought?

How Drought Impacts Human

According to the World Meteorological Organization, drought killed almost 650,000 people in the period 1970 - 2019. Poor land use and poverty may worsen the effects of drought and make people more vulnerable.

• Risk of famine: Drought reduces crop yields, causing food shortages and increasing the risk of famine.

• Malnutrition: Lack of food from drought may cause malnutrition, particularly in vulnerable communities.

• Public health: Clean water supplies are impacted by drought, which exacerbates public health issues and causes illnesses.

The effects of drought on humans

• Wildfires: Dry conditions from drought make forests and grasslands more likely to catch fire.

• Flash flooding: If it rains unexpectedly, flash floods may result because drought hardens the soil and reduces its capacity to absorb precipitation.

How to Counteract Drought?

Drought is a natural hazard that has major consequences for populations, agriculture, and ecosystems. Acting quickly and thoroughly is vital in light of the increasing threat posed by this phenomenon.

While we cannot completely prevent drought from happening, there are ways to reduce its effects and build resilience.

• Promote water conservation (Read more: How to conserve water?)

• Practice sustainable agriculture

• Restore forests and green spaces…

To learn more about how to prepare and respond effectively, explore our detailed guide in the blog "How to prepare for drought?"

Tips to deal with drought

Conclusion

To conclude, each drought type uniquely affects the environment, economy, and communities. By learning about these types of drought, we can develop better prevention and adaptation strategies to reduce risks and protect natural resources. Stay informed and prepared to minimize the serious consequences of drought in the future.