Drought Extremes are Intensifying More Rapidly Than in the Past

Eos is reporting on research that puts modern droughts in 600-year perspective, and the findings are sobering: extreme droughts are intensifying faster now than they have in recorded history. The study combined climate simulations with measurements from 1950 to 2024 and found that moderate droughts are increasing gradually, but extreme droughts are accelerating sharply—far beyond historical norms. The acceleration suggests unprecedented drought magnitudes are coming, making urgent action on water management and climate adaptation essential.

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