OCR B GCSE Geography Revision

Revision materials to support you in preparing for your GCSE Geography exams. 

GCSE | OCR B GCSE Geography Revision | Global Hazards | What are the causes of drought?

Revision Notes

What is a drought?

Where do droughts happen?

What are the causes of drought?

Interactive Revision

Flashcards

Quiz

What are the causes of drought?

A range of human and physical factors can lead to drought. These are summarised below.

  • Physical Causes of Drought
  • High pressure systems, often associated with stable and dry conditions, prevent the formation of clouds and precipitation, leading to prolonged dry periods.
  • El Niño events disrupt normal weather patterns, often leading to reduced rainfall and drought conditions in various regions around the world.
  • Rising global temperatures intensify evaporation rates, decrease soil moisture, and exacerbate drought conditions in already dry regions.
  • Shifts in the ITCZ can alter rainfall distribution, causing some regions to experience prolonged dry periods while others receive more rainfall.
  • Construction of dams can alter natural water flow, reducing downstream water availability and contributing to drought conditions in regions reliant on these water sources.
  • Human Causes of Drought
  • The removal of trees reduces the ability of the land to retain moisture, disrupts the water cycle, and leads to reduced rainfall and increased risk of drought.
  • Over-exploitation of soil and water resources for high-yield crops can deplete water supplies and degrade soil, contributing to drought conditions.
  • Over-irrigation depletes water reserves, lowers water tables, and can lead to soil salinization, reducing the availability of water for agriculture and other uses.
  • Overgrazing by livestock removes vegetation cover, leading to soil erosion and reduced soil moisture retention, increasing susceptibility to drought.
  • Construction of dams can alter natural water flow, reducing downstream water availability and contributing to drought conditions in regions reliant on these water sources.

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