An article published in the journal India International Centre Quarterly, has pointed out that India could experience more flash droughts by the end of this century.
- India had faced a severe flash drought in 1979, affecting about 40% of the country and taking a toll on agriculture. It was followed by 2009,1951,1986 and 2005 droughts.
- Flash droughts are type of extreme event distinguished by sudden onset and rapid intensification of drought conditions with severe impacts.
- Normally, developing drought conditions take months, but these happen within a week or in two weeks’ time. In the flash drought phenomenon, soil moisture depletes rapidly. Several factors including atmospheric anomalies, anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions play an important role.
- In contrast with conventional drought, which is mainly driven by lack of precipitation, flash drought usually includes abnormally high temperatures, winds, and/or incoming radiation that leads to abnormally high evapotranspiration (ET) rates.
- Flash droughts occur more often than perceived and can cause major agricultural losses if they are not predicted and detected in a timely manner.
(Source: The Hindu and NOAA)
