Drought causes and locations. 2.7a, 2.7b, 2.7c.

Question 1

What are the characteristics of an arid environment?

Answer 1

Permanent low precipitation - 10-250mm precipitation a year, high pressure conditions, mostly located in the tropics.

Question 2

what are the characteristics of drought conditions?

Answer 2

Temporary low precipitation conditions, high pressure conditions, located anywhere.

Question 3

Why is the normal climate dry in arid areas?

Answer 3

Because they normally have high pressure which leads to low precipitation.

Question 4

What is a meteorological cause of drought?

Answer 4

Where an area receives less than it’s average precipitation - in some places - eg. the UK, high pressure forces away the low pressure systems that brings rain around it.

Question 5

What is a hydrological cause of drought?

Answer 5

Where the hydrological cycle receives less rainfall than normal. Less precipitation = groundwater supplies and reservoirs are not filled.

Question 6

How does global circulation make some areas more vulnerable to drought?

Answer 6

Where the Hadley and Ferrel cells are, such as Africa’s Sahel, descending dry air means little precipitation.