Heat waves that spark damaging droughts are happening more frequently, study finds
Summary
Heat waves leading to sudden and damaging droughts are increasing globally, with the most harmful type where heat triggers drought rising sharply since 2000.
Key Points
- Heat waves that trigger droughts are spreading worldwide at an accelerating rate due to climate change.
- The extent of heat-first droughts increased from 2.5% of Earth's land in the 1980s to 16.7% in 2023.
- The rate of increase in heat-first drought events in the last 22 years is eight times higher than earlier periods.
- Regions most affected include South America, western Canada, Alaska, western US, and parts of central and eastern Africa.
