Special section on drought

Abstract

Among the weather-related natural hazards, drought is probably the most complex and severe due to its intrinsic nature and wide-ranging and cascading impacts. It affects agricultural production, public water supply, energy production, transportation, tourism, human health, biodiversity, natural ecosystems, etc. Droughts are recurrent; they can last from a few weeks to several years, and can affect large areas and populations. The related impacts develop slowly, are often indirect and can linger for long times after the end of the drought. While the impacts result in severe economic losses, environmental damage and human suffering, they are generally less visible than the impacts of other natural hazards (e.g. floods and storms) that cause immediate and structural damages, which are clearly linked to the hazard and quantifiable in economic terms. Therefore, the drought risk is often underestimated and remains a “hidden” hazard. Proactive drought risk management is still not a reality in most parts of the world.