Answer:
Drought can be triggered by several physical or natural conditions, including:
1. Lack of Precipitation: The most obvious cause of drought is a lack of precipitation, such as rainfall or snowfall. When an area experiences below-average rainfall for an extended period of time, drought conditions can occur.
2. High Temperatures: High temperatures increase the rate of evaporation, which can lead to drying of soil, crops, and water bodies. When there is little precipitation to replenish water, this can lead to drought conditions.
3. Wind: Wind increases the rate of evaporation from soil, plants, and water bodies, which can lead to drying out the area. In arid and semiarid regions, wind can exacerbate drought conditions.
4. Soil Moisture: If soil moisture is already low, a lack of rainfall or snowfall will have a greater impact, leading to a higher likelihood of drought. This is why areas with low soil moisture, such as deserts and arid regions, are more prone to drought.
5. Land Use: Human activities like deforestation, land degradation, and overgrazing can reduce the amount of moisture retained in the soil and increase the risk of drought conditions.
6. Topography: Areas with high elevation or mountainous terrain tend to receive less precipitation due to atmospheric conditions, leading to a higher risk of drought.
All of these factors and more can trigger or contribute to drought conditions.