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.
A vital waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, the Panama Canal relies on fresh water supplied by a reservoir to raise and lower the locks that allow the transit of thousands of ships a year.
Earth Sciences
Sep 25, 2025
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The Ganges River is in crisis. This lifeline for around 600 million people in India and neighboring countries is experiencing its worst drying period in 1,300 years. Using a combination of historical data, paleoclimate records ...
Turkey is experiencing its worst drought in over half a century, with rainfall dropping by 27% compared to the last three decades and even more in some regions, according to data published this week.
Environment
Sep 23, 2025
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A new study published in the journal Nature Communications by researchers from the IBS Center for Climate Physics (ICCP) at Pusan National University in the Republic of Korea reveals that global warming is accelerating the ...
Earth Sciences
Sep 23, 2025
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171
Waterways and wells are running dry in parts of New England and trees in New York City are already shedding their leaves as a late-summer drought engulfs the U.S. Northeast, raising the risk of wildfires.
Environment
Sep 22, 2025
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Increasing tree species diversity is often regarded as a way to make forests more resilient to climate change. However, a new international study led by the University of Freiburg shows that diversity can have both positive ...
Ecology
Sep 18, 2025
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The water cycle has become increasingly erratic and extreme, swinging between deluge and drought, according to a new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). It highlights the cascading impacts of too much ...
Earth Sciences
Sep 18, 2025
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Streamflow drought—when substantially less water than usual moves through rivers—can seriously disrupt the welfare of nearby communities, agriculture, and economies. Synchronous drought, in which multiple river basins experience ...
Earth Sciences
Sep 18, 2025
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Europe and the Mediterranean basin saw record drought in August, with more than half of the land affected, according to AFP analysis of EU data.
Environment
Sep 18, 2025
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Fish living in warm and arid climates are used to adversity. High temperatures and droughts can routinely cause the streams they call home to stop flowing or dry out altogether.
Ecology
Sep 17, 2025
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