How does the severity of droughts affect the price of beef cattle in Australia?5 answersThe severity of droughts in Australia has a multifaceted impact on the price of beef cattle. Droughts influence the capital structure of farms, with significant effects on short-term and long-term debts and equity for dairy, sheep, and beef farms. Additionally, droughts affect the export market of beef, leading to significant declines in export quantities of beef during and after droughts, particularly in high-income nations. Furthermore, the financial performance of farms in drought-affected regions shows that consecutive years of drought can surprisingly have a positive effect on operating profit per hectare and retained profit per hectare, prompting structural changes towards additional cropping. These findings collectively highlight the intricate relationship between drought severity and the dynamics of beef cattle prices in Australia.
Is climate change a key driver of droughts?5 answersClimate change is a key driver of droughts. Anthropogenic climate warming is expected to accelerate the hydrological cycle, leading to more frequent and extreme hydrological droughts in the future. The frequency of extreme hydrological droughts is projected to increase across global catchments by the end of the 21st century. Precipitation stress has historically been the primary driver of droughts, but with climate warming, air temperature variations are expected to become the new primary driver, especially in high-latitude cold catchments. The impacts of climate change on droughts are evident in various regions, such as Western Europe and the Mediterranean, where prolonged droughts have been exacerbated by anthropogenic climate change. Overall, climate change plays a significant role in the occurrence and intensification of droughts, posing increasing risks to water resources, agriculture, and ecosystems.
Impacts of drought on Vegetation?4 answersDrought has significant impacts on vegetation, including changes in intensity and frequency, which can lead to severe drought episodes. Mixed forests with different tree species are generally more resistant to drought, but the interactions between species can change under increasing drought severity. Short-term rapid decline in soil moisture can cause irreversible damage to vegetation, especially during flash droughts, which are associated with a rapid decline in root-zone soil moisture. Drought can also affect the spatial patterns of vegetation and the seasonal sensitivity of different vegetation types, with climate and soil factors being the primary limiting factors. Global warming has increased the frequency of drought events, resulting in crop failures, food shortage, and larger wildfires, which have serious socio-economic and agricultural impacts.
How drought impact farm crops?5 answersDrought has a significant impact on farm crops. It reduces crop yields, affects crop growth and development, and hampers physiological processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, and nutrient uptake. Drought stress leads to a reduction in the size of leaves, stem extension, and root proliferation, as well as disruptions in plant water relations and reduced water-use efficiency. The severity of the impact varies by region and crop type, with some regions experiencing no yield impacts while others see reductions as high as 8.0% in dryland counties in the Midwest. Farmer losses from extreme drought can reach up to 20% of production value for corn and wheat and 35% for soybeans. To mitigate the impact of drought on crops, various strategies can be employed, including agronomic approaches such as mulching, conservation tillage, intercropping, and micro irrigation. Additionally, genetic and agronomic tools can be used for crop protection under drought conditions.
How droughts affects biodiversity in australia?5 answersDroughts in Australia have significant impacts on biodiversity. The effects of drought on plant communities and vegetation growth are determined by aerodynamic fluxes in the atmosphere, available soil water and nutrients, and exposure to solar radiation. Higher-diversity plant communities have been found to buffer against the negative effects of drought, either by including more drought-resistant species or by improving the performance of drought-sensitive species. However, the impact of drought on forest biodiversity and ecosystem functioning is generally negative, with decreased productivity and increased mortality observed. Droughts in Australia are recurrent and natural, but our ability to monitor, forecast, and manage drought is limited. Understanding and managing drought require research on defining and monitoring drought characteristics, documenting historical variation, and improving prediction and projection of drought. The nature and causes of droughts in Southeast Australia vary, highlighting the need for further research into understanding and representing hydroclimatic drivers of drought.
What is the relationship between drought in Central Asia and the Southern Ocean?5 answersDrought in Central Asia is influenced by the Southern Ocean. The Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO) plays a role in the aggravation of agricultural droughts in southern Central Asia, and its phase transition affects soil moisture decline. Additionally, there is an inverse relationship between precipitation anomalies in the eastern Indian Ocean and Central and Southwest (CSW) Asia, which leads to suppression of precipitation over CSW Asia. The drought propagation processes in Central Asia are closely linked to the water cycle, and the development and recovery stages of drought are influenced by various factors, including topography. A high-resolution drought dataset developed for Central Asia shows a correlation between the Standardized Precipitation Evaporation Index (SPEI) and drought indicators, such as soil moisture and vegetation index. Ecosystem water use efficiency (WUE) in Central Asia is affected by drought, with a negative correlation during the drought period and a positive correlation in the post-drought period.