Handbook of Drought and Water Scarcity

📘 About This Book

"This volume include over 30 chapters, written by experts from around the world. It examines drought and all of the fundamental principles relating to drought and water scarcity. It includes coverage of the causes of drought, occurences, preparations, drought vulnerability assessments, societal implications, and more."--Provided by publisher.

📖 Summary

The Handbook of Drought and Water Scarcity, edited by Saeid Eslamian and published in 2017, stands as an exhaustive, multi-authored compendium dedicated to understanding, managing, and forecasting drought and severe water shortages. Spanning over thirty comprehensive chapters, the volume brings together insights, methodologies, and case studies from leading international experts in hydrology, meteorology, and environmental management. At its core, the book seeks to establish a foundational understanding of the mechanisms driving water scarcity while providing actionable frameworks for mitigating its far-reaching consequences. Rather than treating drought as a mere absence of rain, the text frames it as a complex, creeping natural hazard with multifaceted origins and profound socioeconomic impacts. The opening sections of the volume dive deeply into the fundamental principles of drought, meticulously analyzing its physical and meteorological causes. Contributors explore the intricacies of precipitation deficits, temperature anomalies, and broader climatic shifts that trigger dry spells across different geographic regions. By examining the historical occurrences and frequencies of these events, the book equips readers with the background necessary to contextualize contemporary water crises. A major emphasis is placed on drought forecasting and monitoring, highlighting the scientific tools and indicators used by researchers and policymakers to anticipate dry periods before they escalate into full-scale emergencies. Moving beyond mere forecasting, the handbook addresses the critical domain of drought vulnerability assessments. Authors evaluate how various communities, ecosystems, and economic sectors—particularly agriculture—absorb and react to water stress. The text explores vulnerability mapping and risk assessment methodologies, enabling planners to identify high-risk zones and populations well in advance. This analytical approach ensures that disaster management moves away from reactive emergency response toward proactive risk reduction and strategic resilience building. Societal implications form another vital pillar of the handbook. Water scarcity is rarely just an environmental problem; it is a human crisis that affects public health, food security, economic stability, and political relations. The chapters dedicated to this theme examine how prolonged dry spells ripple through human societies, causing displacement, conflicts over shared resources, and severe economic downturns. By analyzing these societal dimensions, the book underscores the urgent need for integrated water resource management policies that foster cooperation and sustainable usage. Furthermore, the volume explores preparations and mitigation strategies, detailing best practices in water conservation, infrastructure planning, and policy formulation. Experts share innovative approaches to demand management, alternative water sources, and adaptive agricultural practices designed to maximize crop yield with minimal water input. Ultimately, the Handbook of Drought and Water Scarcity serves as an indispensable reference tool for scholars, students, and practitioners striving to secure a water-resilient future in an increasingly unpredictable climate.

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