From Soil to Sky: The Science and Solutions Behind Growing Drought

Jun 5

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According to a report from the New York Times, "all but two U.S. states are in drought". Most of us are aware of the droughts in our own states, but we don't fully understand what the future holds for our soil and atmosphere. Recently, scientists have found a phenomena to describe this heavily prevalent issue in our country: "atmospheric thirst".

What is Atmospheric Thirst?

Atmospheric thirst is the ability for the atmosphere to absorb water from the surface. Therefore the greater the "thirst", the greater the force and rate at which the earth pulls water from our soil, worsening droughts. Once again, rising temperatures have affected a different aspect of our country, becoming the biggest factor in our droughts. As temperatures increase, the balance between water supply and water demand from the atmosphere's evaporation cycle becomes disrupted, causing excess demand without adequate water from our soil to support it. Hotter temperatures cause the atmosphere to become more desperate to find moisture.

The Overarching Effects That Seep Through

Drought causes our crops to experience stunted growth and a decrease in nutrients. However for third world countries and nomadic tribes across the world, the effects are even more dangerous in our current world, experiencing a strain in water supplies, crops, and even increasing the presence of wildfires substantially.

What Can We Do?

Upgrade irrigation systems to keep pace with higher evaporative losses.
Shift to drought-resistant crops and water-saving farming practices.
Restore soil health and natural habitats to retain moisture longer.

However we must note that environmental action is not a fast process to responding to the climate crisis. Each of these actions must be must over a long period of time in order for us to start reporting decreased levels of drought; however without these long-term actions, our planet will experience even worse conditions.

The future of clean, resilient communities depends on understanding and responding to atmospheric thirst. By acting now, we can help secure water, food, and health for generations to come—even as the climate changes.

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