Drought is a severe lack of precipitation that leads to water shortages. It has many impacts, from food insecurity and famine to public health risks and conflict over scarce resources. Droughts can also damage ecosystems and lead to landscape-level changes, such as desertification. This article will help you learn more about what causes drought, how it affects people and the environment, and steps you can take to protect yourself and your community from drought.

Droughts are a natural phenomenon that can happen anywhere in the world. But they are more frequent and intense in some places than others. That’s because of the way wind patterns move clouds and moisture around the planet, especially over large areas. When those winds take a longer path or restrict their movement, areas that normally get a lot of rain can experience a long dry period, or drought.

Climate change is another factor influencing the frequency and severity of droughts, along with ocean temperatures and the movement of the jet stream. Scientists are still working out why these factors might influence how often and how severely a place experiences drought.

For example, in Africa, where the effects of climate change are being felt most acutely, drought has caused millions of children to be at risk of severe malnutrition. Without enough nutritious food, these children can’t grow and develop properly, putting them at higher risk of disease and even death. To reduce this danger, we need to understand why droughts occur and use early warning systems to predict when they’re likely to happen.