Reservoirs are running low. Rice fields are allowed to go fallow. This is not supposed to happen in Taiwan, a subtropical island with an average rainfall of 2777mm (109 in.) per year. Yet, in the first 5 months of 2021, Taiwan received only 457.5 mm (18 in.) of rain. Despite heavy rains that fell in June, Taiwan is now facing the prospect of one of its driest years since 1979.
This unprecedented drought is a cause for concern for the people of Taiwan, as well as for the broader global economy. Taiwan’s drought coincides with a time when industries globally are experiencing production difficulties due to a shortage of semiconductors.
To learn more about Taiwan’s drought and the semiconductor supply crisis, read the full post on Medium.