Drought Definitions Revisited

Abstract:

Drought is commonly defined as a temporary lack of water compared to normal conditions. In the traditional definition used in the natural sciences (climate science, hydrology, earth science) only natural drivers are included and the human effect on water resources is excluded. Drought impact studies, however, using observed crop yields, wildfire data, reservoir information, etc., can hardy make this division. The interdisciplinarity of drought asks for a broader definition that considers the interplay between the hazard, impacts and management. In the IPCC-SREX report definitional issues are mentioned as one of the reasons that no clear conclusions can be drawn about historic and future changes in drought. Human activities related to drought are mentioned by IPCC, but not included in their definition of drought. In the anthropocene the human aspects of drought can no longer be neglected. The IAHS Panta Rhei initiative, for example, urges hydrologists to include the connection with human systems. We propose a paradigm shift in the definition of drought, namely to expand it to include the effects of human action. For attribution we can then distinguish between climate-induced drought and human-induced drought. In this presentation, we will present a conceptual diagram that will do justice to the interdisciplinarity of drought. We will discuss issues of variability and change, scale (both temporal and spatial scales), feedbacks, and direct and indirect anthropogenic effects. The revised definition provides recognition and a common ground to researchers in all fields of research and is better aligned with drought impacts and with stakeholders’ and policy maker’s views on drought.