Sudden, severe dry spells known as flash droughts are rising in intensity around the world, with a notable exception in mountainous Central Asia, where flash drought extent is shrinking
Flash drought is simply the rapid onset or intensification of drought.
It is set in motion by lower-than-normal rates of precipitation, accompanied by abnormally high temperatures, winds, and radiation.
Together, these changes in weather can rapidly alter the local climate
Heat and changes to precipitation patterns caused by a warming climate are driving these trends
Analyzed 40 years of NASA’s MERRA-2 climate data, from 1980 to 2019
The Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, Version 2 (MERRA-2) is the latest atmospheric reanalysis of the modern satellite era produced by NASA's Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO).
South America, particularly southern Brazil and the Amazon is experiencing strong intensification in all three dimensions of flash drought, aligning with deforestation patterns in the region, high temperatures and less rain.
Congo, Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Lesotho, and Madagascar are also hotspots.
High temperatures were found to be more important than declining precipitation in the African watersheds.
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