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Droughts

Abstract:

This chapter provides a brief explanation of drought characteristics and implications over the region, stressing the complexity of characterizing and managing this phenomenon. Several indicators and techniques have been utilized for quantification of drought conditions in the Mediterranean. In contrast to climatic droughts that depend only on climate variability, water uses and demands, and land transformations, and water regulation strongly determines the severity of hydrological droughts. Under future climate scenarios, the extreme hydrological droughts like the event of 2017 can be intensified and even become normal in the future, which stresses the need to develop more appropriate management strategies and adaptation plans in the Mediterranean. Therefore, any targeted strategy for drought management in the Mediterranean should minimize the risk of drought events and reduce their corresponding impacts. Overall, the Mediterranean region must make a transition from an emergency management to a planned drought risk management based on the principles of risk reduction.