LAN, MAN, and WAN are different types of computer networks that connect devices over different areas. A LAN (Local Area Network) is a small network that covers a small area, like a home, office, or school. It lets devices like computers and printers share information quickly in that small space. A MAN (Metropolitan Area Network) is bigger than a LAN and covers a city or large campus. It connects several smaller networks in that area.

A WAN (Wide Area Network) is the biggest type, covering very large areas like countries or even the whole world. The internet is the most famous example of a WAN. Each type of network gets bigger in size and area covered, from LAN to MAN to WAN.

LAN

LAN stands for local area network. It is a group of network devices that allow communication between various connected devices. Private ownership has control over the local area network rather than the public. LAN has a shorter propagation delay than MAN as well as WAN. It covers smaller areas such as colleges, schools, hospitals, and so on.

MAN

MAN stands for metropolitan area network. It covers a larger area than LAN such as small towns, cities, etc. MAN connects two or more computers that reside within the same or completely different cities. MAN is expensive and should or might not be owned by one organization.

WAN

WAN stands for wide area network. It covers a large area than LAN as well as a MAN such as country/continent etc. WAN is expensive and should or might not be owned by one organization. PSTN or satellite medium is used for wide area networks.

‎Drought is a phenomenon that comes under geography in the strict sense of the word but has reverberations across various fields. This is because droughts affect the livelihood and economies and even lives of people affected by it.

Types of Drought

There are three types of droughts known to the scientific community:

Meteorological drought occurs when there is a prolonged time with less than average precipitation. Such type of droughts can be triggered by a high level of reflected sunlight and above-average prevalence of high-pressure systems, winds carrying continental, rather than oceanic air masses.

Agricultural droughts affect crop production or the ecology of the range. This condition can also arise independently from any change in precipitation levels when either increased irrigation or soil conditions and erosion triggered by poorly planned agricultural activities cause a shortfall in water available to the crops.

Hydrological drought is brought about when the water reserves available in sources such as aquifers, lakes and reservoirs fall below a locally significant threshold. Hydrological drought tends to show up more slowly because it involves stored water that is used but not replenished. Like an agricultural drought, this can be triggered by more than just a loss of rainfall.

Socio-Economic Drought refers to the abnormal water shortage that affects socio economic condition of a region.