Ebook: Drought Assessment, Management, and Planning: Theory and Case Studies

Drought is an insidious hazard of nature. It originates from a deficiency of precipitation that results in a water shortage for some activity or some group. Africa has suffered the most dramatic impacts from drought during the past several decades­ the recent droughts in the southern and eastern portions of the continent are testimony to that fact. However, the vulnerability of all nations to extended periods of water shortage has been underscored again and again during this same time period. In the past decade alone, droughts have occurred with considerable frequency and severity in most of the developed and developing world. Significant parts of North and South America, Australia, Europe, and Asia have been plagued recently by extended periods of severe drought, often resulting in far-reaching economic, social, and environmental consequences. In the western United States, for example, vast areas are facing the prospects of a sixth or seventh consecutive year of drought in 1993. Concern by members ofthe scientific and policy communities about the inability of governments to respond in an effective and timely manner to drought and its associated impacts exists worldwide. Numerous "calls for action" for improved drought planning and management have been issued by national governments, professional organizations, intergovernmental organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and others. The United Nations' International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (lDNDR) is yet another example of an international call for action to reduce the impacts that result from drought and other natural hazards.

---

This book is dedicated to furthering scientific understanding of drought assessment and management and the policy issues associated with drought preparedness worldwide. The authors invited to contribute to the volume are uniquely qualified to address their respective topics. The book is divided into two parts. Part One emphasizes theoretical aspects of drought assessment, management, and preparedness; it also includes a discussion of the concept of drought. These chapters are aimed at improving the reader's understanding and awareness of drought; appropriate technologies to monitor drought's onset, development and termination; emerging methodologies to estimate impacts; adjustment strategies to alleviate drought effects; and a methodology for countries to follow in the development of a national drought policy and plan. Part One concludes with an insightful examination of how changes in climate may alter climatic variability and the frequency and intensity of extreme events, particularly drought.
The successes and failures of previous assessment and response efforts are highlighted in Part Two through case studies in Israel, India, Brazil, South Africa, Australia, the United States, and China. Several of these case studies provide insight into the difficulties inherent in the provision of timely and effective drought assistance by government in both a developed and developing country setting. The lessons learned in these instances provide both an extraordinary opportunity and challenge to other drought-prone nations to learn from these experiences and avoid some of the mistakes of the past. Some of the case studies in Part Two illustrate remarkable progress in drought preparedness and are examples for other nations to follow.

---

This book is dedicated to furthering scientific understanding of drought assessment and management and the policy issues associated with drought preparedness worldwide. The authors invited to contribute to the volume are uniquely qualified to address their respective topics. The book is divided into two parts. Part One emphasizes theoretical aspects of drought assessment, management, and preparedness; it also includes a discussion of the concept of drought. These chapters are aimed at improving the reader's understanding and awareness of drought; appropriate technologies to monitor drought's onset, development and termination; emerging methodologies to estimate impacts; adjustment strategies to alleviate drought effects; and a methodology for countries to follow in the development of a national drought policy and plan. Part One concludes with an insightful examination of how changes in climate may alter climatic variability and the frequency and intensity of extreme events, particularly drought.
The successes and failures of previous assessment and response efforts are highlighted in Part Two through case studies in Israel, India, Brazil, South Africa, Australia, the United States, and China. Several of these case studies provide insight into the difficulties inherent in the provision of timely and effective drought assistance by government in both a developed and developing country setting. The lessons learned in these instances provide both an extraordinary opportunity and challenge to other drought-prone nations to learn from these experiences and avoid some of the mistakes of the past. Some of the case studies in Part Two illustrate remarkable progress in drought preparedness and are examples for other nations to follow.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xv
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
The Enigma of Drought....Pages 3-15
Monitoring Regional Drought Conditions....Pages 17-30
The Role of NOAA Satellite Data in Drought Early Warning and Monitoring: Selected Case Studies....Pages 31-47
Assessing the Regional Consequences of Drought: Putting the MINK Methodology to Work on Today’s Problems....Pages 49-64
Agricultural Drought Management Strategies to Alleviate Impacts: Examples from the Arid and Subhumid Regions of the Indian Subcontinent....Pages 65-86
Planning for Drought: A Methodology....Pages 87-108
Implications of Global Warming for Climate Variability and the Occurrence of Extreme Climate Events....Pages 109-130
Front Matter....Pages 131-131
Drought Risk and Water Management in Israel: Planning for the Future....Pages 133-155
Indian Drought Management: From Vulnerability to Resilience....Pages 157-179
Drought and Policy Responses in the Brazilian Northeast....Pages 181-198
Drought Policy in the Republic of South Africa....Pages 199-212
Drought in Australia: Prediction, Monitoring, Management, and Policy....Pages 213-236
Drought Mitigation in the United States: Progress by State Government....Pages 237-251
Institutional Responses to the 1987-92 California Drought....Pages 253-262
Drought in China: Present Impacts and Future Needs....Pages 263-289
Back Matter....Pages 291-293

---

This book is dedicated to furthering scientific understanding of drought assessment and management and the policy issues associated with drought preparedness worldwide. The authors invited to contribute to the volume are uniquely qualified to address their respective topics. The book is divided into two parts. Part One emphasizes theoretical aspects of drought assessment, management, and preparedness; it also includes a discussion of the concept of drought. These chapters are aimed at improving the reader's understanding and awareness of drought; appropriate technologies to monitor drought's onset, development and termination; emerging methodologies to estimate impacts; adjustment strategies to alleviate drought effects; and a methodology for countries to follow in the development of a national drought policy and plan. Part One concludes with an insightful examination of how changes in climate may alter climatic variability and the frequency and intensity of extreme events, particularly drought.
The successes and failures of previous assessment and response efforts are highlighted in Part Two through case studies in Israel, India, Brazil, South Africa, Australia, the United States, and China. Several of these case studies provide insight into the difficulties inherent in the provision of timely and effective drought assistance by government in both a developed and developing country setting. The lessons learned in these instances provide both an extraordinary opportunity and challenge to other drought-prone nations to learn from these experiences and avoid some of the mistakes of the past. Some of the case studies in Part Two illustrate remarkable progress in drought preparedness and are examples for other nations to follow.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xv
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
The Enigma of Drought....Pages 3-15
Monitoring Regional Drought Conditions....Pages 17-30
The Role of NOAA Satellite Data in Drought Early Warning and Monitoring: Selected Case Studies....Pages 31-47
Assessing the Regional Consequences of Drought: Putting the MINK Methodology to Work on Today’s Problems....Pages 49-64
Agricultural Drought Management Strategies to Alleviate Impacts: Examples from the Arid and Subhumid Regions of the Indian Subcontinent....Pages 65-86
Planning for Drought: A Methodology....Pages 87-108
Implications of Global Warming for Climate Variability and the Occurrence of Extreme Climate Events....Pages 109-130
Front Matter....Pages 131-131
Drought Risk and Water Management in Israel: Planning for the Future....Pages 133-155
Indian Drought Management: From Vulnerability to Resilience....Pages 157-179
Drought and Policy Responses in the Brazilian Northeast....Pages 181-198
Drought Policy in the Republic of South Africa....Pages 199-212
Drought in Australia: Prediction, Monitoring, Management, and Policy....Pages 213-236
Drought Mitigation in the United States: Progress by State Government....Pages 237-251
Institutional Responses to the 1987-92 California Drought....Pages 253-262
Drought in China: Present Impacts and Future Needs....Pages 263-289
Back Matter....Pages 291-293
....