torka

Torka is a term used in Swedish with two main senses. As a noun, it denotes dryness or drought, referring to a prolonged lack of moisture in air, soil, or water bodies. In everyday language it can describe the drying of objects or materials, for example clothes or dishes. As a verb, torka means to dry or to become dry, as in drying a surface or letting something dry. The word is used in both meteorological and everyday contexts in Swedish.

In meteorology and hydrology, drought is a multi-faceted phenomenon and is commonly categorized into several types. Meteorological drought describes a period with below‑average precipitation. Agricultural drought focuses on soil moisture deficits that affect crop and pasture production. Hydrological drought concerns low levels in rivers, reservoirs, and groundwater. Socioeconomic drought links water scarcity to impacts on society, economy, and infrastructure. Drought is typically assessed with indices such as the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) or the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI), and may also involve satellite observations and hydrological data.

Causes of torka include natural climate variability and long-term changes in climate patterns, with human-induced climate change increasingly influencing the frequency, duration, and intensity of droughts in many regions. Impacts can be significant, reducing agricultural yields, stressing ecosystems, limiting municipal water supplies, and increasing wildfire risk. Mitigation and adaptation measures encompass water conservation, drought planning, improved irrigation efficiency, reservoir management, and risk communication.

In Swedish usage, torka thus covers both the physical condition of dryness and the event of a prolonged drought, while the verb form emphasizes the action of drying.