Drought Intensifying in Cuba

Drought Intensifying in Cuba

Havana, Feb 22 (AIN) A recent study has confirmed that drought is
intensifying in Cuba since it rains much less now than 46 years ago. The
situation is worst in the eastern provinces of the island, says the
study carried out by the Cuban National Institute of Water Resources(INRH).

INRH experts warned that the average annual rainfall has decreased,
between 1961 and 2000, from 1,468 millimeters to 1,335, as posted on
Granma newspaper online.

In the eastern part of the country the situation is critical since the
average rainfall has dropped to 1,279 millimeters. Rainfall in all five
eastern provinces have diminished by 260 millimeters, adds the report.

The research confirmed that the peak month for the rainy season falls in
May in the eastern provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba and Guantanamo,
while it is June in Havana, Matanzas, Villa Clara, Cienfuegos, Sancti
Spiritus, Ciego de Avila, Camaguey and Las Tunas.

Calculations point to the Cauto river basin as the catchment area most
affected over the last few years by drought. Compared to the period
between 1931-1960, the rains there have diminished by 33 percent.

http://www.ain.cubaweb.cu/idioma/ingles/2006/feb22estudio-sequia.htm