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Rising Mega Droughts Earth Dry Spell Expands by 12 Million Acres Annually
A shocking new study published in Science reveals that mega droughts severe, long-lasting dry spells are increasing at an alarming rate, expanding by 50,000 square kilometers (12 million acres) each year. These extreme droughts are depleting water sources, devastating agriculture, and fueling wildfires worldwide.
Scientists have compiled the first-ever global catalog of megadroughts since 1980, ranking them by severity. "We found that these multiyear droughts are growing in size, intensity, and impact," said Pascal Buri, a glaciologist at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and one of the study’s authors.
The study began with droughts in Chile, which has faced a water crisis since 2010. However, researchers soon expanded their focus and discovered droughts lasting more than two years ...