Droughts and High Pressure Systems

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to droughts, heatwaves, and high pressure systems.

Drought

A prolonged period of deficient rainfall due to natural or human-induced factors, leading to water scarcity.

Global Atmospheric Circulation Model

High-pressure belt around 30° N/S of Equator causes low rainfall, increasing drought risk.

Heatwaves and Droughts

High-pressure systems lead to clear skies, raising temperatures and reducing rainfall, increasing wildfire risk in summer.

Wildfires

A secondary effect of droughts and heatwaves that causes significant loss of life, property, resources, and disrupts services.

Aquifer

Underground permeable rock layer containing extractable water via wells/pumps.

Indian Ocean Dipole

Changing Indian Ocean temperatures affect evaporation, and a positive dipole can halt rain systems, causing droughts.

Snowpack

Accumulated snow layers in high altitudes that melt slowly to feed streams and rivers.

Jet Stream

High-altitude, high-speed winds caused by atmospheric temperature differences. Global warming reduces these differences, slowing the jet stream.

Global warming impact

Changing ocean and land temperatures from global warming increase drought risks by affecting evaporation

Impacts of Stalled High Pressure Systems

Turns dry days into weeks