Drought

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/drought

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How long is Drought?Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of droughts
2. What is the drought classification types?Meteorological, agricultural, hydrological, and socioeconomic
3. What is the primary exacerbating factor?Heat waves increasing evapotranspiration rates
4. Why do droughts get worse when it’s hot?Heat makes water evaporate faster, like a fan blowing on a wet surface, so soil and plants dry out quicker.
5. How can droughts affect animals and plants?Wetlands shrink, forests become tinder, and many species lose water and food, which can hurt their numbers.

Dendrochronology: The scientific method of dating tree rings to the exact year they were formed.
Evapotranspiration: The combined process of water evaporation from the Earth's surface and transpiration from plants.
Biodiversity: The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem, which is threatened by drought.
Hydropower: Electricity generated from the energy of moving water, often impacted by low river levels during droughts.