Abstract

ESTRADA-MEDINA, Héctor et al. The Drought of the Yucatan Peninsula. Tecnol. cienc. agua [online]. 2016, vol.7, n.5, pp.151-165. ISSN 2007-2422.

Drought is one of the most difficult natural phenomena to study because there is not yet a clear enough definition nor the technical resources to predict it. However, it is a problem that has increased worldwide in recent decades, perhaps influenced by climate change. In Mexico, drought affects more people than any other natural contingency, so it is necessary to study it to prevent or mitigate its effects. The Yucatan Peninsula, a privileged area with a vast aquifer, drought is not as severe as in other states of México. Drought in the Yucatan Peninsula produces lost or reduction of crop, livestock and hives yields, as well as a reduction of the quality of the products and an increment of the production costs, which promotes a decrease in the producers income. Regarding the operator organisms, there are not reductions on water availability during drought events, water is scarce only in some areas where the aquifer is very deep or the natural quality of the water is not adequate for human consumption. However, since the Yucatan Peninsula depends of the aquifer for water provision, water availability may suddenly decrease due to infrastructure problems of the operator system or contamination (important because the high permeability of the geologic substrate and the lack of drainage and purification systems).

Keywords : Water availability; operative drought; dry season.

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