All US states except Alaska and Kentucky are facing drought. This number is unprecedented, according to the US Land Observing Service, cited by Guardian. Just over 45 percent of the U.S. and Puerto Rico are in drought conditions this week, according to the tracker. About 54% of the land in the 48 US states is affected by drought.
Even as the country enters fall conditions and moves away from a record-breaking summer, droughts continue to increase. More than 150 million people in the country are affected by drought this week. That's about a 34% increase from last week and over a 150% increase from last month.
Drought is also affecting more than 318 million acres of crops, a 57 percent increase from last month. This reality is just the latest illustration of the global warming and climate crisis caused by human burning of fossil fuels.
Last month it was reported that the world's water cycle was out of balance "for the first time in human history". Nearly 3 billion people face water scarcity.
Drought conditions are not simply caused by a reduction in rainfall – they are driven and exacerbated by unusually high temperatures, which can quickly suck moisture from the atmosphere and land.
However, the problem is more complex than simply counting rainy days. Droughts can occur even when there is slightly more rain than usual, depending on the frequency of rainfall. If there is a lot of rain at once, it is difficult for the water to be properly absorbed into the ground.
“Climate change can cause extremes in both directions. When it rains really hard, the water won't penetrate the soil. Runoff occurs, which leads to flooding," explains Dr. Lifeng Luo, a professor of ecology at Michigan State University.
Over the years, regional and state leaders across the U.S. have recognized the drought problem and tried various ways to begin to address it. In New York City, Mayor Eric Adams encouraged residents to water their lawns less often and to "use water only when necessary."
“Taking shorter showers, for example, means more water can be allocated to other uses, which is good. Of course, the impact of such a move in terms of combating drought is very small, but it is still the right move," Dr. Luo added.
According to the National Integrated Drought Information System, droughts will increase an area's dependence on groundwater. Groundwater provides more than 40% of the water used for agriculture and domestic water supply in the United States. Increased pumping during droughts may reduce the future availability of these supplies.
Damage costs are passed on to consumers
California, which relies heavily on the agriculture industry to sustain its economy, has lost $1,7 billion in crop revenue in 2022 due to the ongoing drought.
Dry conditions can also lead to low water levels in rivers and other waterways. Ports and other water transport may become constrained due to a reduction in available routes and cargo capacity, increasing transport costs.
This increase in costs is ultimately passed on to consumers, who see it in the form of higher prices for produce, groceries and other goods.
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