| Abstract: | This report describes the drought and hydrologic conditions in the United States and southern Canada during the 1986-90 water years. This drought, which spread from the Eastern United States, where it was referred to as ‘the drought of the century,‘ through the Midwest to the West Coast, brought to mind the Dust Bowl era of the 1930‘s. However, generally localized floods were numerous, but only one hurricane (Hugo) was of any consequence to the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands during a coincident period of anomalously low hurricane activity. The drought began in early 1984 as an ‘agricultural drought,‘ which is a precipitation deficiency that results in a lack of soil moisture that is detrimental to agricultural production. This condition did not affect streamflow until about March or April 1986. A ‘hydrological drought,‘ which is far more serious and widespread than an agricultural drought, was apparent from the low streamflow conditions that occurred after April 1986. To illustrate the changing nature of the drought, maps and synopses of monthly hydrologic conditions for the water years 1986-90 are presented. |
| Genre: | USGS Numbered Series |
| ProdID: | 1902 |
| Citation Author: | Holmes, Sandra L. |
| Citation Contributing Office: | |
| Citation Datum: | |
| Citation Day: | |
| Citation Edition: | - |
| Citation Editor: | |
| Citation End Page: | |
| Citation Issue: | |
| Citation Keywords: | |
| Citation Language: | ENGLISH |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | |
| Citation LatN: | |
| Citation LatS: | |
| Citation LonE: | |
| Citation LonW: | |
| Citation Month: | |
| Citation No Pagination: | |
| Citation Number Of Pages: | |
| Citation Online Only Flag: | |
| Citation Phsyical Description: | vii, 139 p. :ill. (some col.), map ;28 cm. |
| Citation Projection: | |
| Citation Public Comments: | |
| Citation Publisher: | U.S. Dept. of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey ;
For sale by the Branch of Distribution, |
| Citation Series: | Water Supply Paper |
| Citation Series Code: | WSP |
| Citation Series Number: | 2314-B |
| Citation Search Results Text: | Overview of drought and hydrologic conditions in the United States and southern Canada, water years 1986-90; 1992; WSP; 2314-B; Holmes, Sandra L. |
| Citation Start Page: | |
| Citation Volume: | |
| Citation Year: | 1992 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Overview of drought and hydrologic conditions in the United States and southern Canada, water years 1986-90; 1992; WSP; 2314-B; Holmes, Sandra L. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.usgs.gov/wsp/2314b/report-thumb.jpg |
| URL (DOCUMENT): | http://pubs.usgs.gov/wsp/2314b/report.pdf |
| Date Other: | Sat, 1 Jan 1994 00:00 -0600 |
| Publisher: | U.S. Dept. of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey ;
For sale by the Branch of Distribution, |
