Droughts, as a research topic, encompass the characterization, drivers, impacts, and prediction of prolonged periods of abnormally low water availability in the atmosphere, soil, and hydrological systems. Scientific study distinguishes meteorological, agricultural, hydrological, and socio-economic droughts, often quantified using indices such as the Standardized Precipitation Index or Palmer Drought Severity Index. Research investigates land–atmosphere feedbacks, large-scale circulation anomalies, soil moisture deficits, vegetation stress, and groundwater depletion, as well as the modulation of drought frequency, duration, and intensity by climate variability and anthropogenic climate change, with implications for water resources management, ecosystem functioning, and risk assessment.
Indonesia has intensified efforts to fight wildfires with cloud seeding and water bombing as thousands of people nationwide battle to breathe through smoke and haze, officials said Friday.
Environment
4 hours ago
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From high in the hills around Las Vegas, tourist Choune Osterero gazes down at the line of chalky mineral deposits left on the rocks around Lake Mead as the level of America's largest reservoir has dropped over the last quarter-century ...
Environment
Aug 27, 2026
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The reappearance of Budapest's "Rock of Starvation" is a visible sign of a drought months in the making. IIASA researchers have traced its progression from missing rainfall and parched soils to exceptionally low flows across ...
Environment
Aug 26, 2026
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Mathieu Comijn inspected rows of potatoes in a field of cracked earth and browned leaves, pulling from the ground tubers barely the size of pingpong balls.
Agriculture
Aug 26, 2026
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If being outside in the heat for even a few minutes felt miserable this summer, imagine what it's like for herders who are always out walking with their livestock and rarely get a break.
Environment
Aug 25, 2026
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Forests support much of the world's biodiversity and play a vital role in regulating Earth's climate, but they are increasingly exposed to drought. To understand the potential consequences of drought, a key question is whether ...
Environment
Aug 25, 2026
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For generations, summer in Europe has been languid and dreamy, bringing fine weather and lengthy days on sunny beaches and terraces. But in 2026, the brutal reality of climate change forced its way into daily life.
Environment
Aug 25, 2026
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India is currently in the middle of its summer monsoon, but this year's rainfall presents an interesting paradox. Much of the country has received less rain than usual so far, yet has still been hit by severe floods and landslides. ...
Environment
Aug 25, 2026
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At Hampton Court Palace, head gardener Graham Dillamore strode across the burned beige grass in the spectacular formal gardens southwest of London, laid out in the 17th century.
Environment
Aug 25, 2026
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What helps plants cope better with drought? With heat waves and periods of extreme drought becoming increasingly common worldwide, the need for drought-tolerant plants is increasingly urgent. With the help of bacteria, plants ...
Plants & Animals
Aug 24, 2026
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