Drought information please?

Question

How are they formed?
What are the consequences of the weather condition?
What are some famous droughts that happened in the past; when did it happen ; maps; and temperatures of this particular drought?

thanks!

Answer 1

Droughts are formed when a stagnant weather pattern sets up over an area, usually a high pressure ridge over a region for a prolonged time(highs bring dry weather), in their severest form, water supplies dry up, the soil turns to dust and is carried away on the wind, animals starve or die of thirst, and grass and forest fires rage out of control. The midwestern dust bowl of the dirty thirties, is a classic example of drought at its worst. You can find information on droughts online in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's website.