Causes of Drought:**

Here are the causes of drought and desertification: Causes of Drought: Natural climate variability: Long-term shifts in atmospheric circulation patterns, such as those influenced by phenomena like El Niño, can lead to reduced rainfall in certain regions. Reduced precipitation: A sustained period of lower-than-average rainfall is the direct cause. Increased temperatures: Higher temperatures lead to increased evaporation from land and water bodies, exacerbating water shortages even with normal rainfall. Causes of Desertification: Overgrazing: Too many livestock consume vegetation faster than it can regrow, leaving soil exposed and vulnerable to erosion. Deforestation: The removal of trees, which help anchor soil and retain moisture, exposes the land to wind and water erosion. Unsustainable farming practices: Intensive cultivation, monocropping, and improper irrigation can deplete soil nutrients, degrade soil structure, and lead to salinization. Climate change: Rising global temperatures and altered rainfall patterns intensify droughts, making drylands more susceptible to degradation. Water mismanagement: Inefficient use of water resources, such as over-extraction of groundwater, can deplete water tables and stress ecosystems. That's 2 down. 3 left today — send the next one.