water stress
Insufficient moisture condition
Water stress describes insufficient water availability to meet demand—whether in plants, ecosystems, or human populations.
A plant under water stress wilts; a region under water stress faces shortages for agriculture, industry, or drinking.
The term appears in environmental science and policy discussions: Climate change is increasing water stress across the American Southwest.
Water-stressed often modifies regions or populations facing chronic scarcity.
- rainwater harvestingGathering precipitation for later use
- droughtProlonged water scarcity
- dry spellProlonged absence of rain
- parched earthSeverely dried-out ground
- desertificationLand becoming barren, infertile
aridity · rain shadow · salinization · scarcity · xerophyte · wilting · food insecurity · drought tolerance · evapotranspiration · groundwater depletion · climate change · wastewater recycling · soil erosion · precipitation · withering · deforestation · tension · thirst
- crop problemsblight, drought damage, crop disease, root rot, wilting
- environmental dataair quality index, climate data, carbon dioxide level, ozone level, weather data
- plant problemsroot rot, iron deficiency, calcium deficiency, wilting, yellow leaves
- tree problemscrack, dead wood, dieback, rot, wound
- water conservationdrip irrigation, leak detection, rainwater collection, leak repair, rainwater harvesting
- agroclimategrowing season, frost date, frost dates, evapotranspiration, soil moisture
water stressturgor
Cellular fluid pressure
water security · overwatering · waterlogging · flooding · inundation