TERMIUM Plus®
The Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank.
HYDROLOGICAL DROUGHT [1 record]
Record 1 - internal organization data 2006-03-16
Record 1, English
Record 1, Subject field(s)
- Atmospheric, Climatic and Meteorological Phenomena
- Hydrology and Hydrography
Record 1, Main entry term, English
- hydrological drought
1, record 1, English, hydrological%20drought
correct
Record 1, Abbreviations, English
Record 1, Synonyms, English
Record 1, Textual support, English
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Period of abnormally dry weather sufficiently prolonged to give rise to a shortage of water as evidenced by below normal streamflow and lake levels and/or the depletion of soil moisture and a lowering of groundwater levels. 2, record 1, English, - hydrological%20drought
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Hydrological drought refers to deficiencies in surface and subsurface water supplies. It is measured as streamflow, and as lake, reservoir and ground water levels. There is a time lag between lack of rain and less water in streams, rivers, lakes and reservoirs, so hydrological measurements are not the earliest indicators of drought. When precipitation is reduced or deficient over an extended period of time, this shortage will be reflected in declining surface and subsurface water levels. 3, record 1, English, - hydrological%20drought
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 2 CONT
Drought is viewed as a sustained and regionally extensive occurrence of below average natural water availability, either in the form of precipitation, river runoff, or groundwater. Droughts may be classified as meteorological or hydrological: A Meteorological Drought occurs when there is below average availability of precipitation. ... A Hydrological Drought is marked by a deficit in the runoff of rivers where discharge (flow) remains below a low threshold or the rivers dry up completely and remain dry for a very long time and a significant natural depletion of aquifers (groundwater). The low threshold flow is the 10-year return period 7-day minimum mean flow. 4, record 1, English, - hydrological%20drought
Record 1, French
Record 1, Domaine(s)
- Phénomènes météorologiques, climatiques et atmosphériques
- Hydrologie et hydrographie
Record 1, Main entry term, French
- sécheresse hydrologique
1, record 1, French, s%C3%A9cheresse%20hydrologique
correct, feminine noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, French
Record 1, Synonyms, French
Record 1, Textual support, French
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Période de temps anormalement sec, suffisamment prolongée pour entraîner une pénurie d'eau caractérisée par un abaissement significatif de l'écoulement des cours d'eau, des niveaux des lacs et/ou des nappes souterraines, les amenant à des valeurs inférieures à la normale, et/ou un assèchement anormal du sol. 2, record 1, French, - s%C3%A9cheresse%20hydrologique
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
[...] si la sécheresse est un risque limité dans le temps, elle n'agit pas moins directement sur l'ensemble du milieu car son impact se transmet de la pluie (sécheresse climatique) au sol (sécheresse édaphique) aux produits de la terre (sécheresse agricole) et aux nappes aquifères (sécheresse hydrologique). 3, record 1, French, - s%C3%A9cheresse%20hydrologique
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
On écrirait mieux «sècheresse». 4, record 1, French, - s%C3%A9cheresse%20hydrologique
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 2 OBS
sècheresse : Cette graphie, puisée des Rectifications de l'orthographe recommandées par le Conseil supérieur de la langue française, est attestée dans le Petit Robert (2006). 5, record 1, French, - s%C3%A9cheresse%20hydrologique
Record 1, Key term(s)
- sècheresse hydrologique
Record 1, Spanish
Record 1, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Fenómenos meteorológicos, climáticos y atmosféricos
- Hidrología e hidrografía
Record 1, Main entry term, Spanish
- sequía hidrológica
1, record 1, Spanish, sequ%C3%ADa%20hidrol%C3%B3gica
feminine noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 1, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 1, Textual support, Spanish
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Período de clima anormalmente seco lo suficientemente prolongado para ocasionar una disminución apreciable en el caudal de los ríos, nivel de los lagos y/o un agotamiento de la humedad del suelo y un descenso en los niveles de aguas subterráneas por debajo de sus valores normales. 1, record 1, Spanish, - sequ%C3%ADa%20hidrol%C3%B3gica
Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank
© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2025
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau
Features
Language Portal of Canada

Access a collection of Canadian resources on all aspects of English and French, including quizzes.
Writing tools

The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.
Glossaries and vocabularies

Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.
- Date Modified: