Page 33 - Water Every Drop Counts
P. 33
ARIDITY : JUST NOT ENOUGH WATER
With a total yearly rainfall of about 4000 bcm India is the second wettest country in the world.
However, huge regional differences in precipitation cause high imbalance in the availability of
water across time and regions.
ARID
HOT
COLD
SEMI ARID
HOT
COLD
DRY SUB-HUMID
HOT
COLD
Arid Zones Semi Arid Zones Dry Sub-Humid Zones
Arid areas confront water Semi Arid areas face a water deficit These areas have fairly
deficit all across the during some months of a year. high annual rainfall
year, with annual rainfall About 37.5% of India’s land area ranging from 850-
ranging from 100 mm to (124 mha) is classified as Semi 1000 mm. About 54.1
500mm. About 22.7 mha Arid. In Dry Semi Arid areas annual mha (16.5%) of India’s
(7%) of India’s total land rainfall ranges between 500-750 geographical area is
mass is classified as mm, in Moist Semi Arid areas it is classified as Dry Sub-
Arid. 750-800 mm. Humid.
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