Droughts
By: Andrea Bruns
Droughts
Droughts are reoccurring all over the world. One of the main reasons: global warming. A drought happens when there is a long period of time with below normal precipitation. Many and most drought happenings are in or around the continent of Africa.,
The Dust Bowl
For almost ten years, residents all over central U.S.A. lived with this great drought. The Dust Bowl brought about the largest migration in U.S. history. It lasted from about 1929 until 1942. "About 60% of the country was affected by this massive drought," Mary and Michael Woods state in their book Droughts. The Dust Bowl covered about 90 million acres of land, an acre equaling about the length of a football field, not including the end-zones.
You Can Help
In the U.S. the average person uses enough water to fill two bathtubs, per day. This is everyone's But you don't have to be an average person. You could use a drying rack or a clothesline to dry out your clothes, save money, energy, and your clothes smell fresh and clean. Plant drought-tolerant plants in your home or garden, such as California Poppies or cacti. Buy a reusable water bottle, preferably aluminum. Also, wash your clothes in cold water whenever possible. Use a water filter to purify tap water instead of buying plastic water bottles. You could also take shorter showers and turn the faucet off when you are brushing your teeth, or whenever else you keep it on. This is everyone's responsibility, including yours. Help prevent the world from drought, remembering that you share this planet with over 7 billion others. You can also contact World Watch Institute for more information. (202) 745-8092
Resources
Droughts Mary and Michael Woods
jogtheweb.com/run/H3ercyUeTmT/Environment