and

drought, abnormally long period of insufficient rainfall. Drought cannot be
defined in terms of inches of rainfall or number of days without rain, since
it is determined by such variable factors as the distribution in time and
area of precipitation during and before the dry period. Since ancient times
droughts have had far-reaching effects on humankind by causing the failure
of crops, decreasing natural vegetation, and depleting water supplies.
Livestock and wildlife, as well as humans, die of thirst and famine; large
land areas often suffer damage from dust storms or fire. Drought is thought
by some to have caused migrations of early humans. In India and China
drought has periodically brought widespread privation and death. In 1930
lack of rainfall devastated the Great Plains of the United States; called
the Dust Bowl, its area spread to alarming dimensions (about 50 million
acres). During 1962 much of the eastern part of the U.S. experienced the
worst drought in more than 50 years; more recent severe droughts have
afflicted countries in many parts of Africa. Clearcutting of trees for
firewood, overgrazing, and overcultivation, which lead to land degredation,
contribute to this drought cycle.

--
------------------------------------------------
Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association
www.rnshipmates.co.uk