Climate Matters: Drought worsening as atmsosphere gets thirstier
While droughts are often attributed to a lack of rainfall, another aspect of the water cycle has been largely overlooked. The supply of rainfall is just one part of the process, and new studies examining water demand are revealing alarming signs.
A study published in the journal Nature suggests that the atmosphere's demand for water is increasing as the planet warms, leading to a worsening of droughts worldwide. While poor rainfall naturally contributes to drought, the additional demand for water plays a crucial role.
It all goes back to the water cycle. Rainfall supplies water to the surface, which then evaporates at varying rates due to factors like temperature, humidity, winds, and other conditions. As temperatures rise, the demand for water also increases.
The study found that droughts have been worsening across the globe, except for parts of Southeast Asia. The atmosphere’s increased demand for water has exacerbated these droughts, making them about 40% worse as a direct result of warmer temperatures.
Recent years have witnessed an even more significant increase. The area affected by drought has increased by 74% from 2018 to 2022 compared to the previous four decades, according to the study. The western United States has seen the size of its droughts double.
The increased demand for water requires farmers to use more water for crops. However, as this increased demand also contributes to the severity of droughts, finding additional water may become more challenging.
