causes of Drought

Generally, rainfall is related to the amount of water vapour in the atmosphere, combined with the upward forcing of the air mass containing that water vapour. If either of these are reduced, the result is drought.

Factors include:

· Above average prevalence of high pressure systems

· Winds carrying continental, rather than oceanic air masses (ie. reduced water content)

· El Nino (and other oceanic temperature cycles)

· Deforestation

· Some speculate that global warming will have a substantial impact on agriculture throughout the world, and especially in developing nations.

Causes of Drought