Drought - Past Problems and Future Scenarios

This must be the definitive book on drought. Down the ages it has caused immense social, economic and ecological damage. The book begins with definitions of drought, then an analysis of global hydrological cycles and the causes of drought. It introduces ways of monitoring and modelling drought before embarking on a wide-ranging historical survey of the Holocene era, covering in more detail the last 2000 years - all this conveys a staggering amount of information. There is a separate chapter on drought in the 20th century and a geographical analysis of major drought events of the last hundred years. Perhaps the most important chapter is the prospect for intensified droughts during the 21st century in view of global climate change. This is particularly important in terms of water availability for agriculture, along with the declining quality of water. There is likely to be considerable competition for water resources, and this will become a strategic foreign policy issue. The authors point out that water is the principal medium through which climate change will affect economic, social and environmental conditions, including sea level rise, glacier melt, more floods and droughts. They think that the impacts are likely to become more severe, which means that coping mechanisms will have to evolve accordingly. More thorough research and better preparation can also play a significant role.